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strange sins, and then justice quickly gave them up for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

3. That man is even ripe for hell, that is become a contriver of sin, a designer, a student in wickedness. One would think it strange, that any man should set his invention on work upon such a subject as sin is, that any should study to become a dexterous artist this way! and yet the scripture frequently speaks of such, "whose bellies prepare deceit, who travail in pain to bring forth this deformed birth, who wink with their eyes," whilst plodding wickedness, as men used to do when they are most intent upon the study of any knotty problem. These have so much of hell already in them, that they are more than half in hell already.

4. He that of a forward professor is turned a bitter persecutor, is also within a few rounds of the top of the ladder; the contempt of their light the Lord hath already punished upon them, in their obduracy and madness against the light. Reader, if thou be gone thus far, thou art almost gone beyond all hope of recovery. Towards other sinners God usually exercises more patience, but with such he makes short work. When Judas turns traitor to his Lord, he is quickly sent to his own place. Such as are again entangled and overcome of those lusts they once seemed to have clean escaped, these bring upon themselves swift damnation, and their judgment lingers not. 5. He that can endure no reproof or controul in the way of his sin, but derides all council, and, like a strong current, rages at and sweeps away all obstacles in his way, will quickly fall into the dead lake.

"He that, being ofshall suddenly be de

ten reproved, hardeneth his neck, stroyed, and that without remedy." This is a death-spot, a hell-spot wherever it appears. From this very symp

tom the prophet plainly predicted the approaching ruin of Amaziah. "I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my voice." He that will not be timely counselled shall be quickly destroyed.

Lastly, When a man comes to glory in his sin, and boast of his wickedness, then it is time to cut him down, "whose end is destruction, whose glory is in their shame.” This is a braving, a daring of God to his face; and with whomsoever he bears long, to be sure these are none of them.

You see now what are the signs of a full ripe sinner; and when it comes to this, either with a nation, or with a single person, then ruin is near. It is in the filling up of the measure of sin, as in the filling up of a vessel cast into the sea, which rolls from side to side, taking in the water by little and little till it be full, and then down it sinks to the bottom. Mean while, admirable is divine patience, which bears with those vessels of wrath, whilst fitting for destruction.

REFLECTIONS.

1. Cheer thyself, O my soul! with the heart-strengthening bread of this divine meditation. Let

faith turn every drop of this truth into a The reflection soul-reviving cordial. God hath sown the of a growing precious seed of grace upon my soul; and Christian. though my heart hath been an unkind soil,

which hath kept it back, and much hindered its growth, yet, blessed be the Lord, it still grows on, though by slow degrees; and from the springing of the seed, and shooting forth of those gracious habits, I may conclude an approaching harvest: Now is my salvation nearer than when I believed; every day I come nearer to my salvation. Rom.

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xii. 11. O that every day I were more active for the God of my salvation! Grow on, my soul, and add to thy faith virtue, to thy virtue knowledge, &c. Grow on from faith to faith; keep thyself under the ripening influences of heavenly ordinances: The faster thou growest in grace, the sooner thou shalt be reaped down in mercy, and bound up in the bundle of life. 1 Sam. xv. 29. I have not yet attained the measure and proportion of grace assigned to me, neither am I already perfect, but am reaching forth to the things before me, and pressing towards the mark for the prize of my heavenly calling. Phil. iii. 12, 13. O mercy to be admired! that I who lately had one foot in hell, stand now with one foot in heaven!

2. But the case is far different with me; whilst others are ripening apace for heaven, I am withThe reflection ering; many a soul ploughed up by convicof the decaying tion, and sown by sanctification long after Christian. me, hath quite over-topped and out

grown me; my sweet and early blossoms are nipped and blown off, my bright morning over-cast and clouded: had I kept on, according to the rate of my first growth, I had either now been in heaven, or at least in the suburbs of it on earth; but my graces wither and languish, my heart contracts and cools to heavenly things; the sun and rain of ordinances and providences improve not my graces; how sad therefore is the state of my soul! 3. Thy case, O declining saint, is sad, but not like mine: thine is but a temporary remission of the The reflection acts of grace, which is recoverable; but I of a hardening am judicially hardened, and treasuring up to myself wrath against the day of wrath. Time was when I had some tender sense of sin, when I could mourn and grieve for it; now I have

sinner.

none at all; my heart is grown stupid and sottish.

:

Time was when I had some conscientious care of duty, when my heart would smite me for the neglect of it; but now none at all. Wretched soul' what wilt thou do? Thou art gone far indeed, a few steps farther would put thee beyond hope hitherto I stand in the field; the long-suffering God doth yet spare me; yea, spare me, while he hath cut down many of my companions in sin round about What doth this admirable patience, this long-suffering, drawn out to a wonder, speak concerning me! doth it not tell me, that the Lord is not willing I should perish, but rather come to repentance? 2 Peter iii. 9. what argument is like his pity and patience to lead a soul to repentance? O that I may not frustrate at last the end of a long-suffering God, lest he proportion the degree of his wrath according to the length of his patience!

me.

And

CHAPTER XVI.

UPON THE CARE OF HUSBANDMEN TO PROVIDE FOR WINTER.

Your winter store in summer you provide ;
To Christian prudence this must be apply'd.

OBSERVATION.

GOOD husbands are careful in summer to provide for winter; then they gather in their winter store; food and fuel for themselves, and fodder for their cattle. "He that gathers in summer, is a wise son; but he that sleeps in harvest, is a son that causeth shame." A well chosen season is the greatest advantage to any action; which, as

it is seldom found in haste, so it is often lost by delay. It is a good proverb, which the frugal Dutch have among them: Bonus servatius faciet bonum bonifacium; A good saver will make a good benefactor: And it is a good proverb of our own-He that neglects the occasion, the occasion will neglect him. Husbandmen know that summer will not hold all the year; neither will they trust to the hopes of a mild and favorable winter, but in season provide for the worst.

APPLICATION.

What excellent Christians should we be, were we but as provident and thoughtful for our souls? It is, doubtless, a singular point of Christian wisdom to foresee a day of spiritual straits and necessities; and, during the day of grace, to make provision for it. This great gospel truth is excellently shadowed forth in this natural observation, which I shall branch out into these seven particulars.

1. Husbandmen know there is a change and vicissitude of seasons and weather; though it be pleasant summer weather now, yet winter will tread upon the heel of summer; frosts, snows and great falls of rains must be expected. This alternate course of seasons, in nature, is settled by a firm law of the God of nature, to the end of the world. “Whilst the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night, shall not cease."

And Christians know that there are changes in the right hand of the Most High, in reference to their spiritual seasons. If there be a spring time of the gospel, there will be also an autumn; if a day of prosperity, it will set in a night of adversity: "for God hath set the one over against the other." In heaven there is a day of everlasting serenity; in hell a night of perfect endless horror and

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