Senn. CXXIX. the Day of ludgment. 173 be more proper and powerful, to wean their Affe&ions from the Love of this World, and to make them willing to part with any Thing in it, than to appre- hend that there would Ihortly be an End of it, and then all the Enjoymentsof it would lignifie nothing. So that their Ignorance in this Matter was, by the Providence of God, admirably fitted for the animating and encouragingof Chri- ftians to a great Zeal and Conftancy in the Profeflion of their Faith, and in the propagating of it, as thinking they had but a little while to do this greatWork in And it will be in all Ages tothe Endof the World, a good Argument to Men to Vigilancy and conftant Preparation; becaufe if they be remits and carelefs, the great Judge of the World may come in a Day that they thinknot of, and at an Hour when they are not aware. But to return to the Particulars I propounded to fpeak to from the Words. Firfi, Here is a general Caution, Takeye heed ; look heedfully to it, that ye be not furprized and overtaken by that Time ; For beinguncertain when it will happen, ye are always in Danger. But becaufe thisgeneral Caution isonly pre- mifed by our Saviour, to make Way for the more particular Dire&ions, there- fore I (hall not infili upon this, but in the Second Place proceed to them. And they are thefe two, Watch and Pray. I. Vigilancy, which is a large Duty, and comprehends under it the whole Care of aChriftian Life ; all that Watchfulnefsand Preparation which weought to ufe, that we be not furprized by that Terrible Day ; that we be not found in Tech a Condition, as flothful and negligent Servants ufed to bein, when their Lord comes fuddenly upon them, and finds all Things in Confufion and Diforder. And to this our Saviour alludes feveral times in hit Exhortations to Watchful- nefs Luke 12. 35, 36. Let yotir Loins be girded about, andyour Lamps burning, and yeyourfelves life unto Men that wait for their Lord. Blefed are thofe Servants, whom the Lordwhen he comes 'than_find matching. And v. 40. Beye'thrreforeready alfo; for the Son of Man cometh at an Hour when ye think not. So that this Watchfulnefs im- plies a continual Care of our Lives and A&ions, that we be always in fuch a Pofture as we would be willing the great Judge of the World fhould take us in, doing thofe Things which we fhould not be afhamed to own, ifhe fhould come fuddenly upon us, and fummon us before his Tribunal ; andavoiding thofe Things, which would be Matter of Shame and Confufion to us at his Appearance. Luke 21. 34, 35 36. where our Saviour gives this Caution, he inftanceth in fome particular Sins, which are more direly contrary to thisLigilance g as In- temperance, and an inordinate Love and Care about Earthly Things. Take heed toyour(elves, leftyour Hearts be overcharged with Surfeiting andDrnnhennefs, and the Cares ofthis Life, andfo that Day come uponyou unawares : for as a Snare (hall it come on all that dwell on the Face of the whole Earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray alma's, that ye may be accounted worthy to efeape all thofe Things that (hall come to pafs, and tohand before the Son of Man. It would be a large Work to defcend to all Particulars, whereby we fhould ex- prefs our Care and Vigilance. I (hall mention but a few ; but fuch as willcom- prehend moft others under them. r. We fhould refolve without Delay to put our felves into that State and Con- dition, in which we may not be afraid Judgment fhould find us. It is to be feared, that a great Part of Mankind are in that loofe and negligent Pofture, in the Time of their Health and Profperity, in which if the great Judge of the World fhould furprize them, and bring them toa fpeedy Trial, it would go ill with them ; their Cafe would be fad and deplorable beyond all Imagination, in- finitely fadder than of a Malefallor (landing before an earthly Judge, guilty of great and notorious Crimes, and continually expelling the Sentence of Death to bepafs'd upon him. Such is the Condition of all impenitent Sinners, who have lived carelefs and diffolute Lives, without any ferious Confideration of their fu- ture State, or Preparation for it; who have in the general Courfe of their Lives neglelled God and Religion, and a great many neceffary and eWential Parts of their Duty, and have indulged themfelves, either in a continual Courfe of Im- piety and Wickednefs, or of Senfual Pleafures and Vanity., What (hall be- come
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