V. The fifth thing in the method of this discourse is application.

ft. Here is matter of information. Then have we a true judgment of God, when we think of his greatnefs in conjunction with his goodness. Never divide his almightiness from his goodness. It is very true, no true majesty without goodness: yea I dare say it, it is the greatest act of power to commiferate and pardon; for other acts of power fubdue things without, but he that doth commiferate and pardon, fubdues himself, which is the greatest victory. General good will, and univerfal love, and charity, are the greateft, both perfections and acts of power. To be ready to forgive, and to be eafy to be reconciled, are things that are grafted, not in the wilderness of the world, but in the most noble and generous natures. They are under the fulleft communication of God that give themselves up to acts of clemency and compaffion, and are forward to relieve, and to do good, to pardon and to forgive. These are the perfons that are endued with divine power. If goodness and righteousness were not in an unseparable conjunction with almighty power, the whole creation were in danger and hazard; and could not be fafe, nor have any fecurity.

Let us imi

2dly. Here is matter of imitation. tate and resemble God. Afford thy fellow-creature that measure that God doth thee; the contrary is an argument of thy not partaking of the divine nature. He that hateth his brother abides in death. And how fay'ft thou, that thou lovest God whom thou hast not feen, and lovest not thy brother whom thou feeft ?.

They

They who are indeed acquainted with God, and naturalized to him, they live in a spirit of hearty love and univerfal good will, 1 John iv. 16. God is love, and he that dwells in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. The first thing in religion, is to have right notions and apprehenfions of God, what is true concerning God; for we never shall be right in our felves, if we have wrong thoughts of God. There fore this is first in religion, to know what is true in God, and the next is to partake thereof; i. e. for us, in our meafure and degree, to be what God is in fulness, height and excellency, wherein Gcd is imitable and communicable. Eph. v. 1. 2. Pet. i. 4.

3dly. Here is matter of confolation to all that are willing to do well, and would be good. They are in the hands of a good God; fo that they may be encouraged, and their hands ftrengthened in their duty. They have an account to give to an equal Lord; they ferve a loving master. Who would not be engaged to such an one, who is gracious and merciful, flow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil? This is our great encouragement, that faithfully ferve God, that if there be a hearty good will on our part, and an honest endeavour to please God; fo ample and abundant is the grace of God, that it will supply all that is defective, either affording more ftrength, or by candid construction, or free pardon of all our mistakes. If not by giving more ftrength, yet by candid conftruction of what is weakly done, but well meant; or by free pardon. God is far better than we can conceive of him. For 1ft, He is infinite in all his perfections; VOL. I,

C

and

and we are but finite in all our apprehenfions, and conceptions of him. And 2dly. We are able through grace to avoid evil, and do good. And 3dly. Our imperfections are easily pardoned; for God pitieth us, as a father pitieth his children. He knoweth our frame, and confidereth we are but duft, Pfal. ciii. 14. Now this should quicken and enliven us chearfully to obey God, and heartily to love him. I dare fay, he doth not know God at all, as he is; nor is he in a good state of religion, who doth not find in himself at times, ravishings with the fweet and lovely confiderations of the divine perfections, viz. his benignity expreffed to all his creatures, and his benefits conferred upon mankind. He that hath not a fénfe and confideration of these, and on whofe mind these have made no impreffion, he is devoid of all true knowledge of God, and I dare fay, he is not in a ftate of true religion.

But what I now speak of, is not to impenitent and contumacious finners; none of this reacheth them. To them there is no promife, as I told you before; their cafe is not compaffionable. If we use our principles of reason, we cannot put it upon God, to act contrary to the quality and perfection of his nature. The very goodness of God doth oblige him to punish impenitent and contumacious finners; and to controul and discourage fin; for if goodnefs be the perfection of the divine nature, then it is fuitable to him, to promote goodness in his creation.

Thus have I run over these things only fummarily, wherein I have done you this courtesy, I have given you matter for your meditation,

35

DISCOURSE III.

The Difference of TIMES, with refpect to RELIGION.

PSALM XCV. 7.

To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

T

O give myself advantage, and to command your attention; in the first place I will take notice how this place of fcripture is referred to, and quoted in the new testament.

If you look into Heb. iii. 7. You will find these words brought in, as faith the Holy Ghost, to day if

ye will hear his voice. What therefore is faid as confonant to them, you are to look upon, to receive and entertain as the word of God, and as dictated by the Holy Spirit. For the words themselves, there is much matter in them, and they are of great weight and importance. But I will only declare to you in feveral particulars, That upon a fpiritual ac count, there is great difference in time; for this is fuggefted, as that wherein the force of the exhorta→ tion doth lie, To day, &c. And to make this out, I will fhew you,

I. That fooner and later are not alike in refpect of eternity; and that the main work we have to do in time, is to prepare for eternity.

II. I will fhew, that times of ignorance and of knowledge are not alike.

III. That before and after voluntary commiffion of known iniquity, are not alike.

IV. That before and after contracted naughty ha"bits, are not alike.

V. That the time of God's gracious and particular vifitation, and the time when God withdraws his gracious prefence and affistance, are not alike.

VI. The flourishing time of our health and strength, 'and the hour of sickness, weakness, and approach of death, are not alike..

VII. Now and hereafter, prefent and future, this world, and the world to come, are not alike.

And by that time I have given you an account of these particulars, and made it evident to you, that all times are not alike, for the purposes of eternity, and the concernments of our fouls; it will appear highly adviseable (confidering the advantages of life, health and ftrength, and the reference of time to eternity) for us all to lead fuch lives, upon which we may fafely die; and to employ ourselves in fuch actions as are accountable when we come to leave the world, fince our welfare to eternity depends upon it. We are, I fay, highly concerned, fo to order our converfations in the world, fo to govern our spirits, and lead fuch lives, as when we fhall come to leave the world, we may reflect with fatisfaction upon what we have done, as good Hezekiah did, 1 Kings xx. 3, 4. when the message came to him that he should die and not live, he turned