Pressing Into the Kingdom of God

The law and the prophets were until John;

since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man

presseth into it.

In these words two things may be observed: First, Wherein the

work and office of John the Baptist consisted, viz. in preaching

the kingdom of God, to prepare the way for its introduction to

succeed the law and the prophets. By the law and the prophets, in

the text, seems to be intended the ancient dispensation under the

Old Testament, which was received from Moses and the prophets.

These are said to be until John; not that the revelations given

by them are out of use since that time, but that the state of the

church, founded and regulated under God by them, the dispensation

of which they were the ministers, and wherein the church depended

mainly on light received from them, fully continued till John. He

first began to introduce the New Testament dispensation, or

gospel-state of the church; which, with its glorious, spiritual,

and eternal privileges and blessings, is often called the kingdom of heaven,

or kingdom of God. John the Baptist preached, that the kingdom of God

was at hand. "Repent" says he, "for the kingdom of

heaven is at hand:"-"Since that time," says

Christ, "the kingdom of God is preached." John the

Baptist first began to preach it; and then, after him, Christ and

his disciples preached the same.

Thus Christ preached, Matthew 4:17. "From that time Jesus

began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is

at hand." So the disciples were directed to preach, Matthew

10:7. "And, as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is

at hand." It was not John the Baptist, but Christ, that fully

brought in, and actually established, this kingdom of God; but he,

as Christ's forerunner to prepare his way before him, did the

first thing that was done towards introducing it. The old dispensation

was abolished, and the new brought in by degrees; as the night

gradually ceases, and gives place to the increasing day which

succeeds in its room.

First the day-star arises; next follows the light of the sun

itself, but dimly reflected, in the dawning of the day; but this

light increases, and shines more and more, and the stars that

served for light during the foregoing night, gradually go out,

and their light ceases, as being now needless, till at length the sun

rises, and enlightens the world by his own direct light, which increases

as he ascends higher above the horizon, till the day-star itself

gradually disappears; agreeable to what John says of himself, John

3:30. "He must increase, but I must decrease." John was

the forerunner of Christ, and harbinger of the gospel-day; much

as the morning-star is the forerunner of the sun. He had the most honorable office

of any of the prophets; the other prophets foretold Christ to

come, he revealed him as already come, and had the honor to be

that servant who should come immediately before him, and actually introduce

him, and even to be the instrument concerned in his solemn inauguration,

as he was in baptizing him. He was the greatest of the prophets

that came before Christ, as the morning-star is the brightest of

all the stars, Matthew 11:11. He came to prepare men's hearts to receive

that kingdom of God which Christ was about more fully to reveal

and erect. Luke 1:17. "To make ready a people prepared for

the Lord."

Secondly, We may observe wherein his success appeared, viz. in

that since he began his ministry, every man pressed into that

kingdom of God which he preached. The greatness of his success appeared

in two things:

1. In the generalness of it, with regard to the subject, or

the persons in whom the success appeared; every man. Here is a term

of universality; but it is not to be taken as universal with

regard to individuals, but kinds; as such universal terms are often

used in Scripture. When John preached, there was an extraordinary

pouring out of the Spirit of God that attended his preaching. An uncommon awakening,

and concern for salvation, appeared on the minds of all sorts of

persons; and even in the most unlikely persons, and those from

whom such a thing might least be expected; as the Pharisees, who

were exceeding proud, and self-sufficient, and conceited of their

own wisdom and righteousness, and looked on themselves fit to be teachers

of others, and used to scorn to be taught; and the Sadducees, who

were a kind of infidels, that denied any resurrection, angel,

spirit, or any future state. So that John himself seems to be

surprised to see them come to him, under such concern for their salvation;

as in Matthew 3:7. "But when he saw many of the Pharisees

come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who

hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" And besides these,

the publicans, who were some of the most infamous sort of men,

came to him, inquiring what they should do to be saved. And the

soldiers, who were doubtless a very profane, loose, and prolifigate

sort of persons, made the same inquiry, Luke 3:12, and 14.

"Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him,

Master, what shall we do? And the soldiers likewise demanded of him,

saying, And what shall we do?

2. His success appeared in the manner in which his hearers

sought the kingdom of God; they pressed into it. It is elsewhere set

forth by their being violent for the kingdom of heaven, and

taking it by force. Matthew 11:12. "From the days of John

the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and

the violent take it by force."

The Doctrine that I observe from the words is this,- "It

concerns every one that would obtain the kingdom of God, to be pressing

into it." -In discoursing of this subject, I would,

First, Show what is that way of seeking salvation that seems

to be pointed forth in the expression of pressing into the kingdom

of God.

Secondly, Give the reasons why it concerns every one that

would obtain the kingdom of God, to seek it in this way.- And then

make application.

I. I would show what manner of seeking salvation seems to be

denoted by "pressing into the kingdom of God."

1. This expression denotes strength of desire. Men in general

who live under the light of the gospel, and are not atheists, desire

the kingdom of God; that is, they desire to go to heaven rather

than to hell. Most of them indeed are not much concerned about

it; but on the contrary, live a secure and careless life. And

some who are many degrees above these, being under some degrees

of the awakenings of God's Spirit, yet are not pressing into the

kingdom of God. But they that may be said to be truly so, have

strong desires to get out of a natural condition, and to get an

interest in Christ. They have such a conviction of the misery of

their present state, and of the extreme necessity of obtaining a

better, that their minds are as it were possessed with and

wrapped up in concern about it.

To obtain salvation is desired by them above all things in the

world. This concern is so great that it very much shuts out other

concerns. They used before to have the stream of their desires

after other things, or, it may be, had their concern divided

between this and them; but when they come to answer the

expression of the text, of pressing into the kingdom of God, this

concern prevails above all others; it lays other things low, and

does in a manner engross the care of the mind. This seeking eternal

life should not only be one concern that our souls are taken up

about with other things; but salvation should be sought as the

one thing needful, Luke 10:42. And as the one thing that is

desired, Psalm 27:4.

2. Pressing into the kingdom of heaven denotes earnestness and

firmness of resolution. There should be strength of resolution,

accompanying strength of desire, as it was in the psalmist, in

the place just now referred to: "one thing have I desired,

and that will I seek after." In order to a thorough engagedness

of the mind in this affair, both these must meet together.

Besides desires after salvation, there should be an earnest

resolution in persons to pursue this good as much as lies in

their power; to do all that in the use of their utmost strength

they are able to do, in an attendance on every duty, and resisting

and militating against all manner of sin, and to continue in such

a pursuit.

There are two things needful in a person, in order to these

strong resolutions; there must be a sense of the great importance and

necessity of the mercy sought, and there must also be a sense of opportunity to

obtain it, or the encouragement there is to seek it. The strength

of resolution depends on the sense which God gives to the heart

of these things. Persons without such a sense, may seem to themselves

to take up resolutions; they may, as it were, force a promise to

themselves, and say within themselves, "I will seek as long

as I live, I will not give up till I obtain," when they do

but deceive themselves. Their hearts are not in it; neither do

they indeed take up any such resolution as they seem to

themselves to do. It is the resolution of the mouth more than of

the heart; their hearts are not strongly bent to fulfill what

their mouth says. The firmness of the resolution lies in the

fulness of the disposition of the heart to do what is resolved to

be done. Those who are pressing into the kingdom of God, have a disposition

of heart to do everything that is required, and that lies in

their power to do, and to continue in it. They have not only

earnestness, but steadiness of resolution: they do not seek with

a wavering unsteady heart, by turns or fits, being off and on;

but it is the constant bent of the soul, if possible, to obtain

the kingdom of God.

3. By pressing into the kingdom of God is signified greatness

of endeavor. It is expressed in Ecclesiastes 10:10. by doing what

our hand finds to do with our might. And this is the natural and necessary

consequence of the two forementioned things. Where there is

strength of desire, and firmness of resolution, there will be

answerable endeavors. Persons thus engaged in their hearts will "strive

to enter in at the strait gate," and will be violent for

heaven; their practice will be agreeable to the counsel of the

wise man, in Proverbs 2 at the beginning, "My son, if thou

wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so

that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to

understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest

up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver,

and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou

understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of

God." Here the earnestness of desire and strength of

resolution is signified by inclining the ear to wisdom, and

applying the heart to understanding; and the greatness of

endeavor is denoted by crying after knowledge, and lifting up the

voice for understanding; seeking her as silver, and searching for

her as for hid treasures: such desires and resolutions, and such endeavors

go together.

4. Pressing into the kingdom of God denotes an engagedness and

earnestness, that is directly about that business of getting into

the kingdom of God. Persons may be in very great exercise and

distress of mind, and that about the condition of their souls;

their thoughts and cares may be greatly engaged and taken up

about things of a spiritual nature, and yet not be pressing into

the kingdom of God, nor towards it. The exercise of their minds

is not directly about the work of seeking salvation, in a diligent

attendance on the means that God hath appointed in order to it,

but something else that is beside their business; it may be God's

decrees and secret purposes, prying into them, searching for signs

whereby they may determine, or at least conjecture, what they are

before God makes them known by their accomplishment. They

distress their minds with fears that they be not elected, or that they

have committed the unpardonable sin, or that their day is past,

and that God has given them up to judicial and final hardness,

and never intends to show them mercy; and therefore, that it is

in vain for them to seek salvation. Or they entangle themselves

about the doctrine of original sin, and other mysterious

doctrines of religion that are above their comprehension.

Many persons that seem to be in great distress about a future

eternal state, get much into a way of perplexing themselves with

such things as these. When it is so, let them be never so much

concerned and engaged in their minds, they cannot be said to be

pressing towards the kingdom of God: because their exercise is

not in their work, but rather that which tends to hinder them in

their work. If they are violent, they are only working violently

to entangle themselves, and lay blocks in their own way; their pressure

is not forwards. Instead of getting along, they do but lose their

time, and worse than merely lose it; instead of fighting with the

giants that stand in the way to keep them out of Canaan, they

spend away their time and strength in conflicting with shadows

that appear by the wayside.

Hence we are not to judge of the hopefulness of the way that

persons are in, or of the probability of their success in seeking salvation,

only by the greatness of the concern and distress that they are

in; for many persons have needless distresses that they had much

better be without. It is thus very often with persons overrun

with the distemper of melancholy: whence the adversary of souls

is wont to take great advantage. But then are persons in the most

likely way to obtain the kingdom of heaven, when the intent of

their minds, and the engagedness of their spirits, be about their

proper work and business, and all the bent of their souls is to

attend on God's means, and to do what he commands and directs them

to. The apostle tells us, I Corinthians 9:26. "that he did

not fight as those that beat the air." Our time is short

enough; we had not need to spend it in that which is nothing to

the purpose. There are real difficulties and enemies enough for

persons to encounter, to employ all their strength; they had not need

to waste it in fighting with phantoms.

5. By pressing into the kingdom of God is denoted a breaking

through opposition and difficulties. There is in the expression a

plain intimation of difficulty. If there were no opposition, but

the way was all clear and open, there would be no need of pressing

to get along. They therefore that are pressing into the kingdom

of God, go on with such engagedness, that they break through the difficulties

that are in the way. They are so set for salvation, that those

things by which others are discouraged, and stopped, and turned

back, do not stop them, but they press through them. Persons ought

to be so resolved for heaven, that if by any means they can

obtain, they will obtain. Whether those means be difficult or

easy, cross or agreeable, if they are requisite means of

salvation, they should be complied with. When anything is

presented to be done, the question should not be, Is it easy or

hard? is it agreeable to my carnal inclinations or interest, or

against them? But is it a required means of my obtaining an

interest in Jesus Christ, and eternal salvation? Thus the

apostle, Philippians 3:11. "If by any means I might attain

unto the resurrection of the dead." He tells us there in the

context what difficulties he broke through, that he suffered the

loss of all things, and was willingly made conformable even to

Christ's death, though that was attended with such extreme torment

and ignominy.

He that is pressing into the kingdom of God, commonly finds

many things in the way that are against the grain; but he is not stopped

by the cross that lies before him, but takes it up, and carries

it. Suppose there be something incumbent on him to do, that is

cross to his natural temper, and irksome to him on that account;

suppose something that he cannot do without suffering in his

estate, or that he apprehends will look odd and strange in the

eyes of others, and expose him to ridicule and reproach, or any

thing that will offend a neighbor, and get his ill-will, or

something that will be very cross to his own carnal appetite-he

will press through such difficulties. Everything that is found to be

a weight that hinders him in running this race he casts from him,

though it be a weight of gold or pearls; yea, if it be a right hand

or foot that offends him, he will cut them off, and will not

stick at plucking out a right eye with his own hands. These

things are insuperable difficulties to those who are not

thoroughly engaged in seeking their salvation; they are

stumbling-blocks that they never get over. But it is not so with

him that presses into the kingdom of God. Those things (before he

was thoroughly roused from his security) about which he was wont

to have long parleyings and disputings with his own conscience-employing

carnal reason to invent arguments and pleas of excuse-he now

sticks at no longer; he has done with this endless disputing and

reasoning, and presses violently through all difficulties.

Let what will be in the way, heaven is what he must and will

obtain, not if he can without difficulty, but if it be possible. He

meets with temptation: the devil is often whispering in his ear,

setting allurements before him, magnifying the difficulties of

the work he is engaged in, telling him that they are insuperable,

and that he can never conquer them, and trying all ways in the

world to discourage him; but still he presses forward. God has

given and maintains such an earnest spirit for heaven, that the

devil cannot stop him in his course; he is not at leasure to lend

an ear to what he has to say.-I come now,

1. On account of the extreme necessity we are in of getting

into the kingdom of heaven. We are in a perishing necessity of

it; without it we are utterly and eternally lost. Out of the

kingdom of God is no safety; there is no other hiding-place; this

is the only city of refuge, in which we can be secure from the

avenger that pursues all the ungodly. The vengeance of God will pursue,

overtake, and eternally destroy, them that are not in this

kingdom. All that are without this enclosure will be swallowed up in an

overflowing fiery deluge of wrath. They may stand at the door and

knock, and cry, Lord, Lord, open to us, in vain; they will be

thrust back; and God will have no mercy on them; they shall be eternally

left of him. His fearful vengence will seize them; the devils

will lay hold of them; and all evil will come upon them; and

there will be none to pity or help; their case will be utterly desperate, and

infinitely doleful. It will be a gone case with them; all offers

of mercy and expressions of divine goodness will be finally

withdrawn, and all hope will be lost. God will have no kind of

regard to their well-being; will take no care of them to save

them from any enemy, or any evil; but himself will be their

dreadful enemy, and will execute wrath with fury, and will take vengeance

in an inexpressibly dreadful manner. Such as shall be in this

case will be lost and undone indeed! They will be sunk down into

perdition, infinitely below all that we can think. For who knows

the power of God's anger? And who knows the misery of that poor

worm, on whom that anger is executed without mercy?

2. On account of the shortness and uncertainty of the

opportunity for getting into this kingdom. When a few days are

past, all our opportunity for it will be gone. Our day is

limited. God has set our bounds, and we know not where. While

persons are out of this kingdom, they are in danger every hour of

being overtaken with wrath. We know not how soon we shall get

past that line, beyond which there is no work, device, knowledge,

nor wisdom; and therefore we should do what we have to do with

our might, Ecclesiastes 9:10.

3. On account of the difficulty of getting into the kingdom of

God. There are innumerable difficulties in the way; such as few conquer:

most of them that try have not resolution, courage, earnestness,

and constancy enough; but they fail, give up, and perish. The

difficulties are too many and too great for them that do not

violently press forward. They never get along, but stick by the

way; are turned aside, or turned back, and ruined. Matthew 7:14.

"Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto

life, and few there be that find it." Luke 13:24.

"Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you,

will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

4. The possibility of obtaining. Though it be attended with so

much difficulty, yet it is not a thing impossible. Acts 8:22.

"If perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven

thee." II Timothy 2:25. "If peradventure God will give

them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." However

sinful a person is, and whatever his circumstances are, there is, notwithstanding,

a possibility of his salvation. He himself is capable of it, and

God is able to accomplish it, and has mercy sufficient for it;

and there is sufficient provision made through Christ, that God

may do it consistent with the honor of his majesty, justice, and

truth. So that there is no want either of sufficiency in God, or capacity

in the sinner, in order to this. The greatest and vilest most

blind, dead, hard-hearted sinner living, is a subject capable of

saving light and grace. Seeing therefore there is such a

necessity of obtaining the kingdom of God, and so short a time,

and such difficulty, and yet such a possibility, it may well

induce us to press into it. Jonah 3:8, 9.

5. It is meet that the kingdom of heaven should be thus

sought, because of the great excellency of it. We are willing to

seek earthly things, of trifling value, with great diligence, and

through much difficulty; it therefore certainly becomes us to

seek that with great earnestness which is of infinitely greater

worth and excellence. And how well may God expect and require it

of us, that we should seek it in such a manner, in order to our

obtaining it!

6. Such a manner of seeking is needful to prepare persons for

the kingdom of God. Such earnestness and thoroughness of endeavors,

is the ordinary means that God makes use of to bring persons to

an acquaintance with themselves, to a sight of their own hearts,

to a sense of their own helplessness, and to a despair in their

own strength and righteousness. And such engagedness and

constancy in seeking the kingdom of heaven, prepare the soul to

receive it the more joyfully and thankfully, and the more highly

to prize and value it when obtained. So that it is in mercy to

us, as well as for the glory of his own name, that God has

appointed such earnest seeking, to be the way in which he will bestow

the kingdom of heaven.

APPLICATION

The use I would make of this doctrine, is of exhortation to

all Christless persons to press into the kingdom of God. Some of you

are inquiring what you shall do? You seem to desire to know what

is the way wherein salvation is to be sought, and how you may be

likely to obtain it. You have now heard the way that the holy

word of God directs to. Some are seeking, but it cannot be said

of them that they are pressing into the kingdom of heaven. There

are many that in time past have sought salvation, but not in this

manner, and so they never obtained, but are now gone to hell.

Some of them sought it year after year, but failed of it, and

perished at last. They were overtaken with divine wrath, and are

now suffering the fearful misery of damnation, and have no rest

day nor night, having no more opportunity to seek, but must

suffer and be miserable throughout the never-ending ages of eternity.

Be exhorted, therefore, not to seek salvation as they did, but

let the kingdom of heaven suffer violence from you.

Here I would first answer an objection or two, and then

proceed to give some directions how to press into the kingdom of God.

Objection. 1. Some may be ready to say, We cannot do this of

ourselves; that strength of desire, and firmness of resolution, that

have been spoken of, are out of our reach. If I endeavor to

resolve and to seek with engagedness of spirit, I find I fail; my

thoughts are presently off from the business, and I feel myself

dull, and my engagedness relaxed, in spite of all I can do.

Answer. 1. Though earnestness of mind be not immediately in

your power, yet the consideration of what has been now said of

the need of it, may be a means of stirring you up to it. It is

true, persons never will be thoroughly engaged in this business,

unless it be by God's influence; but God influences persons by

means. Persons are not stirred up to a thorough earnestness

without some considerations that move them to it. And if persons

can but be made sensible of the necessity of salvation, and also duly

consider the exceeding difficuly of it, and the greatness of the

opposition, and how short and uncertain the time is, but yet are

sensible that they have an opportunity, and that there is a

possibility of their obtaining, they will need no more in order

to their being thoroughly engaged and resolved in this matter. If

we see persons slack and unresolved, and unsteady, it is because

they do not enough consider these things.

2. Though strong desires and resolutions of mind be not in

your power, yet painfulness of endeavors is in your power. It is in

your power to take pains in the use of means, yea very great

pains. You can be very painful and diligent in watching your own

heart, and striving against sin. Though there is all manner of

corruption in the heart continually ready to work, yet you can

very laboriously watch and strive against these corruptions; and

it is in your power, with great diligence to attend the matter of your

duty towards God and towards your neighbor. It is in your power

to attend all ordinances, and all public and private duties of

religion, and to do it with your might. It would be a

contradiction to suppose that a man cannot do these things with

all the might he has, though he cannot do them with more might

than he has. The dullness and deadness of the heart, and

slothfulness of disposition, do not hinder men being able to take

pains, though it hinders their being willing. That is one thing wherein your

laboriousness may appear, even striving against your own

dullness. That men have a dead and sluggish heart, does not argue

that they be not able to take pains; it is so far from that, that it

gives occasion for pains. It is one of the difficulties in the

way of duty, that persons have to strive with, and that gives

occasion for struggling and labour. If there were no difficulties

attended seeking salvation, there would be no occasion for

striving; a man would have nothing to strive about. There is

indeed a great deal of difficulty attending all duties required

of those that would obtain heaven. It is an exceeding difficult

thing for them to keep their thoughts; it is a difficult thing

seriously, or to any good purpose, to consider matters of

greatest importance; it is a difficult thing to hear, or read, or

pray attentively. But it does not argue that a man cannot strive

in these things because they are difficult; nay, he could not

strive therein if there were not difficulty in them. For what is

there excepting difficulties that any can have to strive or

struggle with in any affair or business? Earnestness of mind, and diligence

of endeavor, tend to promote each other. He that has a heart earnestly engaged,

will take pains; and he that is diligent and painful in all duty,

probably will not be so long before he finds the sensibleness of

his heart and earnestness of his spirit greatly increased.

Objection 2. Some may object, that if they are earnest, and

take a great deal of pains, they shall be in danger of trusting

to what they do; they are afraid of doing their duty for fear of

making a righteousness of it.

Answer. There is ordinarily no kind of seekers that trust so

much to what they do, as slack and dull seekers. Though all seeking

salvation, that have never been the subjects of a thorough

humiliation, do trust in their own righteousness; yet some do it

much more fully than others. Some though they trust in their own

righteousness, yet are not quiet in it. And those who are most

disturbed in their self-confidence, (and therefore in the

likeliest way to be wholly brought off from it,) are not such as go

on in a remiss way of seeking, but such as are most earnest and

thoroughly engaged; partly because in such a way conscience is

kept more sensible. A more awakened conscience will not rest so

quietly in moral and religious duties, as one that is less

awakened. A dull seeker's conscience will be in a great measure

satisfied and quieted with his own works and performances; but

one that is thoroughly awakened cannot be stilled or pacified

with such things as these. In this way persons gain much more knowledge

of themselves, and acquaintance with their own hearts, than in a negligent,

slight way of seeking; for they have a great deal more experience

of themselves. It is experience of ourselves, and finding what we

are, that God commonly makes use of as the means of bringing us

off from all dependence on ourselves. But men never get acquaintance

with themselves so fast, as in the most earnest way of seeking.

They that are in this way have more to engage them to think of

their sins, and strictly to observe themselves, and have much

more to do with their own hearts, than others. Such a one has

much more experience of his own weakness, than another that does

not put forth and try his strength; and will therefore sooner see

himself dead in sin. Such a one, though he hath a disposition continually

to be flying to his own righteousness, yet finds rest in nothing;

he wanders about from one thing to another, seeking something to

ease his disquieted conscience; he is driven from one refuge to another,

goes from mountain to hill, seeking rest and finding none; and

therefore will the sooner prove that there is no rest to be

found, nor trust to be put, in any creature whatsoever.

It is therefore quite a wrong notion that some entertain, that

the more they do, the more they shall depend on it. Whereas the reverse

is true; the more they do, or the more thorough they are in

seeking, the less will they be likely to rest in their doings, and

the sooner will they see the vanity of all that they do. So that

persons will exceedingly miss it, if ever they neglect to do any

duty either to God or man, whether it be any duty of religion,

justice, or charity, under a notion of its exposing them to trust in

their own righteousness. It is very true, that it is a common

thing for persons, when they earnestly seek salvation, to trust

in the pains that they take: but yet commonly those that go on in

a more slight way, trust a great deal more securely to their dull

services, than he that is pressing into the kingdom of God does

to his earnestness. Men's slackness in religion, and their trust

in their own righteousness, strengthen and establish one another.

Their trust in what they have done, and what they now do, settles them

in a slothful rest and ease, and hinders their being sensible of

their need of rousing up themselves and pressing forward. And on

the other hand, their negligence tends so to benumb them in such ignorance

of themselves, that the most miserable refuges are stupidly

rested in as sufficient. Therefore we see, that when persons have

been going on for a long time in such a way, and God afterwards comes

more thoroughly to awaken them, and to stir them up to be in good earnest,

he shakes all their old foundations, and rouses them out of their

old resting places; so that they cannot quiet themselves with

those things that formerly kept them secure. I would now proceed to

give some directions how you should press into the kingdom of

God.

1. Be directed to sacrifice every thing to your soul's eternal

interest. Let seeking this be so much your bent, and what you are

so resolved in, that you will make every thing give place to it.

Let nothing stand before your resolution of seeking the kingdom

of God. Whatever it be that you used to look upon as a

convenience, or comfort, or ease, or thing desirable on any account,

if it stands in the way of this great concern, let it be

dismissed without hesitation; and if it be of that nature that it

is likely always to be a hinderance, then wholly have done with

it, and never entertain any expectation from it more. If in time past

you have, for the sake of worldly gain, involved yourself in more

care and business than you find to be consistent with your being

so thorough in the business of religion as you ought to be, then

get into some other way, though you suffer in your worldly

interest by it. Or if you have heretofore been conversant with

company that you have reason to think have been and will be a

snare to you, and a hinderance to this great design in any wise,

break off from their society, however it may expose you to reproach

from your old companions, or let what will be the effect of it.

Whatever it be that stands in the way of your most advantageously

seeking salvation-whether it be some dear sinful pleasure, or strong

carnal appetite, or credit and honor, or the good-will of some persons

whose friendship you desire, and whose esteem and liking you have

highly valued-and though there be danger, if you do as you ought,

that you shall looked upon by them as odd and ridiculous, and become

contemptible in their eyes-or if it be your ease and indolence

and aversion to continual labour; or your outward convenience in

any respect, whereby you might avoid difficulties of one kind or

other-let all go; offer up all such things together, as it were,

in one sacrifice, to the interest of your soul. Let nothing stand

in competition with this, but make every thing to fall before it.

If the flesh must be crossed, then cross it, spare it not,

crucify it, and do not be afraid of being too cruel to it.

Galatians 5:24. "They that are Christ's have crucified the

flesh, with the affections and lusts." Have no dependence on

any worldly enjoyment whatsoever. Let salvation be the one thing

with you. This is what is certainly required of you: and this is

what many stick at; this giving up other things for salvation, is

a stumbling-block that few get over. While others pressed into

the kingdom of God at the preaching of John the Baptist, Herod

was pretty much stirred up by his preaching. It is said, he heard

him, and observed him, and did many things; but when he came to

tell him that he must part with his beloved Herodias, here he

stuck; this he never would yield to, Mark 7:18-20. The rich young

man was considerably concerned for salvation; and accordingly was

a very strict liver in many things: but when Christ came to direct

him to go and sell all that he had, and give to the poor, and

come and follow him, he could not find in his heart to comply

with it, but went away sorrowful. He had great possessions, and

set his heart much on his estate, and could not bear to part with

it. It may be, if Christ had directed him only to give away a considerable

part of his estate, he would have done it; yea, perhaps, if he

had bid him part with half of it, he would have complied with it:

but when he directed him to throw up all, he could not grapple with

such a proposal. Herein the straitness of the gate very much

consists; and it is on this account that so many seek to enter

in, and are not able. There are many that have a great mind to salvation,

and spend great part of their time in wishing they had it, but

they will not comply with the necessary means.

2. Be directed to forget the things that are behind: that is,

not to keep thinking and making much of what you have done, but let

your mind be wholly intent on what you have to do. In some sense

you ought to look back; you should look back to your sins.

Jeremiah 2:23. "See thy way in the valley, know what thou

hast done." You should look back on the wretchedness of your

religious performances, and consider how you have fallen short in

them; how exceedingly polluted all your duties have been, and how

justly God might reject and loathe them, and you for them. But

you ought not to spend your time in looking back, as many persons

do, thinking how much they have done for their salvation; what

great pains they have taken, how that they have done what they

can, and do not see how they can do more; how long a time they

have been seeking, and how much more they have done than others,

and even than such and such who have obtained mercy. They think

with themselves how hardly God deals with them, that he does not

extend mercy to them, but turns a deaf ear to their cries; and hence

discourage themselves, and complain of God. Do not thus spend

your time in looking back on what is past, but look forward, and

consider what is before you; consider what it is that you can do,

and what it is necessary that you should do, and what God calls

you still to do, in order to your own salvation. The apostle, in

the third chapter to the Philippians, tells us what things he did while

a Jew, how much he had to boast of, if any could boast; but he

tells us, that he forgot those things, and all other things that

were behind, and reached forth towards the things that were before, pressing

forwards towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of

God in Christ Jesus.

3. Labour to get your heart thoroughly disposed to go on and

hold out to the end. Many that seem to be earnest have not a heart

thus disposed. It is a common thing for persons to appear greatly

affected for a little while; but all is soon past away, and there

is no more to be seen of it. Labour therefore to obtain a

thorough willingness and preparation of spirit, to continue seeking,

in the use of your utmost endeavours, without limitation; and do

not think your whole life too long. And in order to this, be advised

to two things,

(1.) Remember that if ever God bestows mercy upon you, he will

use his sovereign pleasure about the time when. He will bestow it

on some in a little time, and on others not till they have sought

it long. If other persons are soon enlightened and comforted,

while you remain long in darkness, there is no other way but for

you to wait. God will act arbitrarily in this matter, and you

cannot help it. You must even be content to wait, in a way of

laborious and earnest striving, till his time comes. If you

refuse, you will but undo yourself; and when you shall hereafter

find yourself undone, and see that your case is past remedy, how

will you condemn yourself for foregoing a great probability of salvation,

only because you had not the patience to hold out, and was not

willing to be at the trouble of a persevering labour! And what

will it avail before God or your own conscience to say, that you could

not bear to be obliged to seek salvation so long, when God

bestowed it on others that sought it but for a very short time?

Though God may have bestowed the testimonies of his favor on

others in a few days or hours after they have begun earnestly to

seek it, how does that alter the case as to you, if there proves to

be a necessity of your laboriously seeking many years before you

obtain them? Is salvation less worth taking a great deal of pains

for, because, through the sovereign pleasure of God, others have obtained

it with comparatively little pains? If there are two persons, the

one of which has obtained converting grace with comparative ease,

and another that has obtained it after continuing for many years

in the greatest and most earnest labours after it, how little

difference does it make at last, when once salvation is obtained!

Put all the labour and pains, the long-continued difficulties and

strugglings, of the one in the scale against salvation, and how

little does it subtract; and put the ease with which the other

has obtained in the scale with salvation, and how little does it add!

What is either added or subtracted is lighter than vanity, and a

thing worthy of no consideration, when compared with that infinite

benefit that is obtained. Indeed if you were ten thousand years,

and all that time should strive and press forward with as great

earnestness as ever a person did for one day, all this would bear

no proportion to the importance of the benefit; and it will

doubtless appear little to you, when once you come to be in

actual possession of eternal glory, and to see what that eternal

misery is which you have escaped. You must not think much of your pains,

and of the length of time; you must press towards the kingdom of

God, and do your utmost, and hold out to the end, and learn to

make no account of it when you have done. You must undertake the

business of seeking salvation upon these terms, and with no other

expectations than this, that if ever God bestows mercy it will be

in his own time; and not only so, but also that when you have done

all, God will not hold himself obliged to show you mercy at last.

(2.) Endeavour now thoroughly to weigh in your mind the

difficulty, and to count the cost of perseverence in seeking salvation.

You that are now setting out in this business, (as there are many here

who have very lately set about it;-Praised be the name of God

that he has stirred you up to it!) be exhorted to attend this

direction. Do not undertake in this affair with any other thought

but of giving yourself wholly to it for the remaining part of

your life, and going through many and great difficulties in it.

Take heed that you do not engage secretly upon this condition,

that you shall obtain in a little time, promising yourself that

it shall be within this present season of the pouring out of God's

Spirit, or with any other limitation of time whatsoever. Many,

when they begin, (seeming to set out very earnestly,) do not

expect that they shall need to seek very long, and so do not

prepare themselves for it. And therefore, when they come to find

it otherwise, and meet with unexpected difficulty, they are found

unguarded, and easily overthrown. But let me advise you all who

are now seeking salvation, not to entertain any self-flattering

thoughts; but weigh the utmost difficulties of perseverance, and

be provided for them, having your mind fixed in it to go through

them, let them be what they will. Consider now beforehand, how

tedious it would be, with utmost earnestness and labour, to

strive after salvation for many years, in the mean time receiving

no joyful or comfortable evidence of your having obtained.

Consider what a great temptation to discouragement there probably would

be in it; how apt you would be to yield the case; how ready to

think that it is in vain for you to seek any longer, and that God

never intends to show you mercy, in that he has not yet done it;

how apt you would be to think with yourself, "What an

uncomfortable life do I live! How much more unpleasantly do I

spend my time than others that do not perplex their minds about

the things of another world, but are at ease, and take the

comfort of their worldly enjoyments!" Consider what a temptation

there would probably be in it, if you saw others brought in that

began to seek the kingdom of heaven long after you, rejoicing in

a hope and sense of God's favor, after but little pains and a short

time of awakening; while you, from day to day, and from year to

year, seemed to labour in vain. Prepare for such tempations now.

Lay in beforehand for such trials and difficulties, that you may

not think any strange thing has happened when they come.

I hope that those who have given attention to what has been

said, have by this time conceived, in some measure, what is signified

by the expression in the text, and after what manner they ought

to press into the kingdom of God. Here is this to induce you to a

compliance with what you have been directed to; if you sit still,

you die; if you go backward, behold you shall surely die; if you

go forward, you may live. And though God has not bound himself to

any thing that a person does while destitute of faith, and out of

Christ, yet there is great probability, that in a way of

hearkening to this counsel you will live; and that by pressing

onward, and persevering, you will at last, as it were by violence,

take the kingdom of heaven. Those of you who have not only heard

the directions given, but shall through God's merciful

assistance, practise according to them, are those that probably

will overcome. These we may well hope at last to see standing

with the Lamb on mount Sion, clothed in white robes, with palms

in their hands; when all your labour and toil will be abundantly compensated,

and you will not repent that you have taken so much pains, and

denied yourself much, and waited so long. This self-denial, this waiting,

will then look little, and vanish into nothing in your eyes,

being all swallowed up in the first minute's enjoyment of that

glory that you will then possess, and will uninterruptedly

possess and enjoy to all eternity.

4th Direction. Improve the present season of the pouring out

of the Spirit of God on this town. Prudence is any affair whatsoever

consists very much in minding and improving our opportunities. If you

would have spiritual prosperity, you must exercise prudence in

the concerns of your souls, as well as in outward concerns when

you seek outward prosperity. The prudent husbandman will observe

his opportunities; he will improve seed-time and harvest; he will

make his advantage of the showers and shines of heaven. The

prudent merchant will discern his opportunities; he will not be idle

on a market-day; he is careful not to let slip his seasons for

enriching himself: So will those who prudently seek the fruits of righteousness,

and the merchandise of wisdom, improve their opportunities for

their eternal wealth and happiness.

God is pleased at this time, in a very remarkable manner, to

pour out his Spirit amongst us; (glory be to his name!) You that have

a mind to obtain converting grace, and to go to heaven when you

die, now is your season! Now, if you have any sort of prudence

for your own salvation, and have not a mind to go to hell,

improve this season! Now is the accepted time! Now is the day of

salvation! You that in time past have been called upon, and have

turned a deaf ear to God's voice, and long stood out and resisted

his commands and counsels, hear God's voice today, while it is

called today! Do not harden your hearts at such a day as this!

Now you have a special and remarkable price put into your hands

to get wisdom, if you have but a heart to improve it.

God hath his certain days or appointed seasons of exercising

both mercy and judgment. There are some remarkable times of wrath,

laid out by God for his awful visitation, and the executions of

his anger; which times are called days of vengeance, Proverbs

6:34. Wherein God will visit sin, Exodus 32:34. And so, on the

contrary, God has laid out in his sovereign counsels seasons of remarkable mercy,

wherein he will manifest himself in the exercises of his grace

and loving-kindness, more than at other times. Such times in

Scripture are called by way of eminency, accepted times, and days

of salvation, and also days of God's visitation; because they are

days wherein God will visit in a way of mercy; as in Luke 19:44.

"And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children

within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon

another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation."

It is such a time now in this town; it is with us a day of God's

gracious visitation. It is indeed a day of grace with us as long

as we live in this world, in the enjoyment of the means of grace; but such

a time as this is especially, and in a distinguishing manner, a

day of grace. There is a door of mercy always standing open for

sinners; but such a day as this, God opens an extraordinary door.

We are directed to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to

call upon him while he is near, Isaiah 55:6. If you that are hitherto

Christless, be not strangely besotted and infatuated, you will by all

means improve such an opportunity as this to get heaven, when

heaven is brought so near, when the fountain is opened in the

midst of us in so extraordinary a manner. Now is the time to

obtain a supply of the necessities of your poor perishing souls!

This is the day for sinners that have a mind to be converted before

they die, when God is dealing forth so liberally and bountifully

amongst us; when conversion and salvation work is going on

amongst us from sabbath to sabbath, and many are pressing into

the kingdom of God! Now do not stay behind, but press in amongst

the rest! Others have been stirred up to be in good earnest, and

have taken heaven by violence; be entreated to follow their

example, if you would have a part of the inheritance with them,

and would not be left at the great day, when they are taken!

How should it move you to consider that you have this

opportunity now in your hands! You are in the actual possession

of it! If it were past, it would not be in your power to recover

it, or in the power of any creature to bring it back for you; but

it is not past; it is now, at this day. Now is the accepted time, even

while it is called today! Will you sit still at such a time? Will

you sleep in such a harvest? Will you deal with a slack hand, and

stay behind out of mere sloth, or love to some lust, or lothness

to grapple with some small difficulty, or to put yourself a

little out of your way, when so many are flowing to the goodness

of the Lord? You are behind still; and so you will be in danger

of being left behind, when the whole number is completed that are

to enter in, if you do not earnestly bestir yourself! To be left

behind at the close of such a season as this, will be awful-next

to being left behind on that day when God's saints shall mount up

as with wings to meet the Lord in the air-and will be what will

appear very threatening of it.

God is now calling you in an extraordinary manner: and it is

agreeable to the will and word of Christ, that I should now, in his

name, call you, as one set over you, and sent to you to that end;

so it is his will that you should hearken to what I say, as his

voice. I therefore beseech you in Christ's stead now to press

into the kingdom of God! Whoever you are, whether young or old,

small or great; if you are a great sinner, if you have been a

backslider, if you have quenched the Spirit, be who you will, do

not stand making objections, but arise, apply yourself to your

work! Do what you have to do with your might. Christ is calling

you before, and holding forth his grace, and everlasting benefits,

and wrath is pursuing you behind; wherefore fly for your life,

and look not behind you! But here I would particularly direct

myself to several sorts of persons.

I. To those sinners who are in a measure awakened, and are

concerned for their salvation. You have reason to be glad that you

have such an opportunity, and to prize it above gold. To induce

you to prize and improve it, consider several things.

1. God has doubtless a design now to deal forth saving

blessings to a number. God has done it to some already, and it is

not probable that he has yet finished his work amongst us: we may

well hope still to see others brought out of darkness into marvellous

light. And therefore,

2. God comes this day, and knocks at many persons' doors, and

at your door among the rest. God seems to be come in a very

unusual manner amongst us, upon a gracious and merciful design; a design of

saving a number of poor miserable souls out of a lost and

perishing condition, and of bringing them into a happy state and

eternal glory! This is offered to you, not only as it has always been

in the word and ordinances, but by the particular influences of

the Spirit of Christ awakening you! This special offer is made to

many amongst us; and you are not passed over. Christ has not forgot

you; but has come to your door; and there as it were stands

waiting for you to open to him. If you have wisdom and discretion

to discern your own advantage, you will know that now is your opportunity.

3. How much more easily converting grace is obtained at such a

time, than at other times! The work is equally easy with God at

all times; but there is far less difficulty in the way as to men

at such a time, than at other times. It is, as I said before, a

day of God's gracious visitation; a day that he has as it were

set apart for the more liberally and bountifully dispensing of his

grace; a day wherein God's hand is opened wide. Experience shows

it. God seems to be more ready to help, to give proper convictions,

to help against temptations, and let in divine light. He seems to

carry on his work with a more glorious discovery of his power,

and Satan is more chained up than at other times. Those difficulties

and temptations that persons before struck at, from year to year,

they are soon helped over. The work of God is carried on with

greater speed and swiftness, and there are often instances of sudden

conversion at such a time. So it was in the apostles' days, when

there was a time of the most extraordinary pouring out of the

Spirit that ever was. How quick and sudden were conversions in those days!

Such instances as that of the jailer abounded then, in

fulfillment of that prophecy, Isaiah 66:7, 8. "Before she travailed,

she brought forth: before her pain came she was delivered of a man-child.

Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? For as

soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." So

it is in some degree, whenever there is an extraordinary pouring out

of the Spirit of God; more or less so, in proportion to the

greatness of that effusion. There is seldom such quick work made

of it at other times. Persons are not so soon delivered from

their various temptations and entanglements; but are much longer

wandering in a wilderness, and groping in darkness. And yet,

4. There are probably some here present that are now concerned

about their salvation, that will never obtain. It is not to be supposed

that all that are now moved and awakened, will ever be savingly converted.

Doubtless there are many now seeking that will not be able to

enter. When has it been so in times past, when there has been

times of great outpourings of God's Spirit, but that many who for

a while have inquired with others, what they should do to be

saved, have failed, and afterwards grown hard and secure? All of

you that are now awakened, have a mind to obtain salvation, and

probably hope to get a title to heaven, in the time of this

present moving of God's Spirit: but yet, (though it be awful to

be spoken, and awful to be thought) we have no reason to think any

other, than that some of you will burn in hell to all eternity.

You all are afraid of hell, and seem at present disposed to take pains

to be delivered from it; and yet it would be unreasonable to

think any other, than that some of you will have your portion in

the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Though there are so many that

seem to obtain so easily, having been but a little while under convictions,

yet, for all that, some never will obtain. Some will soon lose

the sense of things they now have; though their awakenings seem

to be very considerable for the present, they will not hold; they

have not hearts disposed to hold on through very many

difficulties. Some that have set out for heaven, and hope as much

as others to obtain, are indeed but slighty and slack, even now,

in the midst of such a time as this. And others, who for the

present seem to be more in earnest, will probably, before long,

decline and fail, and gradually return to be as they were before.

The convictions of some seem to be great, while that which is the occasion

of their convictions is new; which, when that begins to grow old,

will gradually decay and wear off. Thus, it may be, the occasion of

your awakening has been the hearing of the conversion of some

person, or seeing so extraordinary a dispensation of Providence

as this in which God now appears amongst us; but by and by the

newness and freshness of these things will be gone, and so will not

affect your mind as now they do; and it may be your convictions

will go away with it.

Though this be a time wherein God doth more liberally bestow

his grace, and so a time of greater advantage for obtaining it;

yet there seems to be, upon some accounts, greater danger of

backsliding, than when persons are awakened at other times. For

commonly such extraordinary times do not last long; and then when

they cease, there are multitudes that lose their convictions as

it were together. We speak of it as a happy thing, that God is pleased to cause

such a time amongst us, and so it is indeed: but there are some to

whom it will be no benefit; it will be an occasion of their

greater misery; they will wish they had never seen this time; it will

be more tolerable for those that never saw it, or any thing like

it, in the day of judgment, than for them. It is an awful consideration,

that there are probably those here, whom the great Judge will

hereafter call to a strict account about this very thing, why

they no better improved this opportunity, when he set open the

fountain of his grace, and so loudly called upon them, and came

and strove with them in particular, by the awakening influences

of his Spirit; and they will have no good account to give to the

Judge, but their mouths will be stopped, and they will stand

speechless before him. You had need therefore to be earnest, and very resolved in this

affair, that you may not be one of those who shall thus fail, that

you may so fight, as not uncertainly, and so run, as that you may

win the prize.

5. Consider in what sad circumstances times of extraordinary

effusion of God's Spirit commonly leave persons, when they leave

them unconverted. They find them in a doleful, because in a

natural, condition; but commonly leave them in a much more

doleful condition. They are left dreadfully hardened, and with a

great increase of guilt, and their souls under a more strong

dominion and possession of Satan. And frequently seasons of

extraordinary advantage for salvation,when they pass over

persons, and they do not improve them, nor receive any good in

them, seal their damnation. As such seasons leave them, God for

ever leaves them, and gives them up to judicial hardness. Luke 19:41,

42. "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept

over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, the things which

belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine

eyes."

6. Consider, that it is very uncertain whether you will ever

see such another time as this. If there should be such another time,

it is very uncertain uncertain whether you will live to another

time, it is very uncertain whether you will eve whether you will

live to see it. Many that are now concerned for their salvation

amongst us, will probably be in their graves, and it may be in

hell, before that time; and if you should miss this opportunity,

it may be so with you. And what good will that do you, to have

the Spirit of God poured out upon earth, in the place where you

once lived, while you are tormented in hell? What will it avail

you, that others are crying, What shall I do to be saved? while you

are shut up for ever in the bottomless pit, and are wailing and

gnashing your teeth in everlasting burnings?

Wherefore improve this opportunity, while God is pouring out

his Spirit, and you are on earth, and while you dwell in the place

where the Spirit of God is thus poured out, and you yourself have

the awakening influences of it, that you may never wail and gnash

your teeth in hell, but may sing in heaven for ever, with others

that are redeemed from amongst men, and redeemed amongst us.

7. If you should see another such time, it will be under far

greater disadvantages than now. You will probably then be much older,

and will have more hardened your heart; and so will be under less probability

of receiving good. Some persons are so hardened in sin, and so

left of God, that they can live through such a time as this, and

not be much awakened or affected by it; they can stand their ground,

and be but little moved. And so it may be with you, by another

such time, if there should be another amongst us, and you should

live to see it. The case in all probability will be greatly

altered with you by that time.

If you should continue Christless and graceless till then, you

will be much further from the kingdom of God, and much deeper

involved in snares and misery; and the devil will probably have a

vastly greater advantage against you, to tempt and confound you.

8. We do not know but that God is now gathering in his elect,

before some great and sore judgment. It has been God's manner

before he casts off a visible people, or brings some great and

destroying judgments upon them, first to gather in his elect,

that they may be secure. So it was before the casting off the

Jews from being God's people. There was first a very remarkable

pouring out of the Spirit, and gathering in of the elect, by the

preaching of the apostles and evangelists, as we read in the beginning of

the Acts: but after this the harvest and its gleanings were over,

the rest were blinded, and hardened; the gospel had little

success amongst them, and the nation was given up, and cast off from

being God's people, and their city and land was destroyed by the

Romans in a terrible manner; and they have been cast off by God

now for a great many ages, and still remain a hardened and rejected

people. So we read in the beginning of the 7th chapter of the

Revelations, that God, when about to bring destroying judgments

on the earth, first sealed his servants in the forehead. He set

his seal upon the hearts of the elect, gave them the saving

influences and indwelling of his Spirit, by which they were

sealed to the day of redemption. Revelation 7:1-3. "And

after these things, I saw four angels standing on the four corners

of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind

should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal

of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels,

to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt

not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have

sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

And this may be the case now, that God is about, in a great

measure, to forsake this land, and give up this people, and to bring

most awful and overwhelming judgments upon it, and that he is now gathering in

his elect, to secure them from the calamity. The state of the

nation, and of this land, never looked so threatening of such a

thing as at this day. The present aspect of things exceedingly threatens

vital religion, and even those truths that are especially the

foundation of it, out of this land. If it should be so, how awful

will the case be with those that shall be left, and not brought

in, while God continues the influences of his Spirit, to gather

in those that are to be redeemed from amongst us!

9. If you neglect the present opportunity, and be finally

unbelieving, those that are converted in this time of the pouring

out of God's Spirit will rise up in judgment against you. Your

neighbors, your relations, acquaintance, or companions that are converted,

will that day appear against you. They will not only be taken

while you are left, mounting up with joy to meet the Lord in the

air-at his right hand with glorious saints and angels, while you

are at the left with devils-but how they will rise up in judgment

against you.

However friendly you have been together, and have taken

pleasure in one another's company, and have often familiarly conversed

together, they will then surely appear against you. They will

rise up as witnesses, and will declare what a precious

opportunity you had, and did not improve; how you continued

unbelieving, and rejected the offers of a Savior, when those

offers were made in so extraordinary a manner, and when so many

others were prevailed upon to accept of Christ; how you was

negligent and slack, and did not know the things that belonged to

your peace, in that your day. And not only so, but they shall be

your judges, as assessors with the great Judge; and as such will appear

against you; they will be with the Judge in passing sentence upon

you. I Corinthians 6:2. "Know ye not that the saints shall

judge the world?" Christ will admit them to the honor of

judging the world with him: "They shall sit with him in his

throne," Revelation 3:21. "They shall sit with Christ

in his throne of government, and they shall sit with him in his

throne of judgment, and shall be judges with him when you are

judged, and as such shall condemn you.

10. And lastly, You do not know that you shall live through

the present time of the pouring out of God's Spirit. You may be taken

away in the midst of it, or you may be taken away in the

beginning of it; as God in his providence is putting you in mind,

by the late instance of death in a young person in the town.* God

has of late been very awful in his dealings with us, in the

repeated deaths of young persons amongst us. This should stir

every one up to be in the more haste to press into the kingdom of God,

that so you may be safe whenever death comes. This is a blessed

season and opportunity; but you do not know how little of it you

may have. You may have much less of it than others; may by death

be suddenly snatched away from all advantages that are here

enjoyed for the good of souls. Therefore make haste, and escape

for thy life. One moment's delay is dangerous; for wrath is pursuing,

and divine vengeance hanging over every uncovered person. Let these considerations move every one to be improving this

opportunity, that while others receive saving good, and are made

heirs of eternal glory, you may not be left behind, in the same

miserable doleful circumstances in which you came into the world,

a poor captive to sin and Satan, a lost sheep, a perishing,

undone creature, sinking down into everlasting perdition; that

you may not be one of them spoken of, Jeremiah 17:6. "That

shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes."

If you do not improve this opportunity, remember I have told you,

you will hereafter lament it; and if you do not lament it in this

world, then I will leave it with you to remember it throughout a miserable

eternity.

II. I would address myself to such as yet remain unawakened.

It is an awful thing that there should be any one person remaining

secure amongst us at such a time as this; but yet it is to be

feared that there are some of this sort. I would here a little

expostulate with such persons.

* Joseph Clark's wife, a young woman lately married, that died

suddenly the week before this was delivered.

1. When do you expect that it will be more likely that you

should be awakened and wrought upon than now? You are in a Christless

condition; and yet without doubt intend to go to heaven; and therefore intend

to be converted some time before you die; but this is not to be

expected till you are first awakened, and deeply concerned about

the welfare of your soul, and brought earnestly to seek God's converting

grace. And when do you intend that this shall be? How do you lay

things out in your own mind, or what projection have you about

this matter? Is it ever so likely that a person will be awakened,

as at such a time as this? How do we see many, who before were

secure, now roused out of their sleep, and crying, What shall I do

to be saved? But you are yet secure! Do you flatter yourself that

it will be more likely you should be awakened when it is a dull

and dead time? Do you lay matters out thus in your own mind, that

though you are senseless when others are generally awakened, that

yet you shall be awakened when others are generally senseless? Or

do you hope to see another such time of the pouring out of God's

Spirit hereafter? And do you think it will be more likely that

you should be wrought upon then, than now? And why do you think

so? Is it because then you shall be so much older than you are

now, and so that your heart will be grown softer and more tender

with age? or because you will then have stood out so much longer

against the calls of the gospel, and all means of grace? Do you

think it more likely that God will give you the needed influences

of his Spirit then, than now, because then you will have provoked

him so much more, and your sin and guilt will be so much greater?

And do you think it will be any benefit to you, to stand it out

through the present season of grace, as proof against the

extraordinary means of awakening there are? Do you think that

this will be a good preparation for a saving work of the Spirit

hereafter?

2. What means do you expect to be awakened by? As to the

awakening awful things of the word of God, you have had those set

before you times without number, in the most moving manner that

the dispensers of the word have been capable of. As to particular

solemn warnings, directed to those that are in your

circumstances, you have had them frequently, and have them now

from time to time. Do you expect to be awakened by awful

providences? Those also you have lately had, of the most awakening

nature, one after another. Do you expect to be moved by the

deaths of others? We have lately had repeated instances of these.

There have been deaths of old and young: the year has been remarkable

for the deaths of young persons in the bloom of life; and some of

them very sudden deaths. Will the conversion of others move you?

There is indeed scarce any thing that is found to have so great a

tendency to stir persons up as this: and this you have been tried

with of late in frequent instances; but are hitherto proof

against it. Will a general pouring out of the Spirit, and seeing

a conern about salvation amongst all sorts of people, do it? This

means you now have, but without effect. Yea, you have all these

things together; you have the solemn warnings of God's word, and

awful instances of death, and the conversion of others, and see a

general concern about salvation: but all together do not move you

to any great concern about your own precious, immortal, and

miserable soul. Therefore consider by what means it is that you

expect ever to be awakened.

You have heard that it is probable some who are now awakened,

will never obtain salvation; how dark then does it look upon you

that remain stupidly unawakened! Those who are not moved at such a time

as this, come to adult age, have reason to fear whether they are

not given up to judicial hardness. I do not say they have reason

to conclude it, but they have reason to fear it. How dark doth it

look upon you, that God comes and knocks at so many persons'

doors, and misses yours! that God is giving the strivings of his

Spirit so generally amongst us, while you ar left senseless!

3. Do you expect to obtain salvation without ever seeking it?

If you are sensible that there is a necessity of your seeking in order

to obtaining, and ever intend to seek, one would think you could not avoid

it at such a time as this. Inquire therefore, whether you intend

to go to heaven, living all your days a secure, negligent,

careless life.-Or,

4. Do you think you can bear the damnation of hell? Do you

imagine that you can tolerably endure the devouring fire, and everlasting

burnings? Do you hope that you shall be able to grapple with the vengeance

of God Almighty, when he girds himself with strength, and clothes

himself with wrath? Do you think to strengthen yourself against

God, and to be able to make your part good with him? I Corinthians

10:22. "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger

than he?" Do you flatter yourself that you shall find out

ways for your ease and support, and to make it out tolerably

well, to bear up your spirit in those everlasting burnings that

are prepared for the devil and his angels? Ezekiel 22:14.

"Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in

the days that I shall deal with thee?"-It is a difficult

thing to conceive what such Christless persons think, that are unconcerned

at such a time.

III. I would direct myself to them who are grown considerably

into years, and are yet in a natural condition. I would now take

occasion earnestly to exhort you to improve this extraordinary opportunity,

and press into the kingdom of God. You have lost many advantages

that once you had, and now have not the same advantages that

others have. The case is very different with you from what it is with

many of your neighbours. You, above all, had need to improve such

an opportunity. Now is the time for you to bestir yourself, and

take the kingdom of heaven!-Consider,

1. Now there seems to be a door opened for old sinners. Now

God is dealing forth freely to all sorts: his hand is opened wide,

and he does not pass by old ones so much as he used to do. You

are not under such advantages as others who are younger; but yet,

so wonderfully has God ordered it, that now you are not destitute

of great advantage. Though old in sin, God has put a new and extraordinary advantage

in your hands. O! improve this price you have to get wisdom. You

that have been long seeking to enter in at the strait gate and

yet remain without, now take your opportunity and press in! You

that have been long in the wilderness, fighting with various

temptations, labouring under discouragements, ready to give up

the case, and have been often tempted to despair, now, behold the door

that God opens for you! Do not give way to discouragements now;

this is not a time for it. Do not spend time in thinking, that

you have done what you can already, and that you are not elected,

and in giving way to other perplexing, weakening, disheartening

temptations. Do not waste away this precious opportunity in such

a manner. You have no time to spare for such things as these; God

calls you now to something else. Improve this time in seeking and

striving for salvation, and not in that which tends to hinder

it.-It is no time now for you to stand talking with the devil;

but hearken to God, and apply yourself to that which he does now

so loudly call you to. Some of you have often lamented the loss of past opportunties,

particularly, the loss of the time of youth, and have been wishing

that you had so good an opportunity again; and have been ready to

say, "O! if I was young again, how would I improve such an

advantage!" That opportunity which you have had in time past

is irrecoverable; you can never have it again; but God can give

you other advantages of another sort, that are very great, and he

is so doing at this day. He is now putting a new opportunity into

your hands; though not of the same kind with that which you once

had, and have lost, yet in some respects as great of another

kind. If you lament your folly in neglecting and losing past

opportunties, then do not be guilty of the folly of neglecting

the opportunity which God now gives you. This opportunity you

could not have purchased, if you would have given all that you

had in the world for it. But God is putting it into your hands

himself, of his own free and sovereign mercy, without your purchasing

it. Therefore when you have it, do not neglect it.

2. It is a great deal more likely with respect to such persons

than others, that this is their last time. There will be a last

time of special offer of salvation to impenitent

sinners-"God's Spirit shall not always strive with

man," Genesis 6:3. God sometimes continues long knocking at

the doors of wicked men's hearts; but there are the last knocks,

and the last calls that ever they shall have. And sometimes God's

last calls are the loudest; and then if sinners do not hearken,

he finally leaves them. How long has God been knocking at many of

your doors that are old in sin! It is a great deal more likely

that these are his last knocks. You have resisted God's Spirit in

times past, and have hardened your heart once and again; but God

will not be thus dealt with always. There is danger, that if now, after

so long a time, you will not hearken, he will utterly desert you,

and leave you to walk in your own counsels.

It seems by God's providence, as though God had yet an elect

number amongst old sinners in this place, that perhaps he is now

about to bring in. It looks as though there were some that long

lived under Mr. Stoddard's ministry, that God has not utterly

cast off, though they stood it out under such great means as they

then enjoyed. It is to be hoped that God will now bring in a

remnant from among them. But it is more likely that God is now

about finishing with them, one way or other, for their having

been so long the subjects of such extraordinary means. You have

seen former times of the pouring out of God's Spirit upon the

town, when others were taken and you left, others were called out of

darkness into marvelous light, and were brought into a glorious

and happy state, and you saw not good when good came. How dark

will your circumstances appear, if you shall also stand it out through

this opportunity, and still be left behind! Take heed that you be

not of those spoken of, Hebrews 6:7, 8. that are like the

"earth that has rain coming oft upon it, and only bears

briers and thorns." As we see there are some pieces of

ground, the more showers of rain fall upon them, the more fruitful

seasons there are, the more do the briers, and other useless and

hurtful plants, that are rooted in them, grow and flourish. Of

such ground the apostle says, "It is rejected, and is nigh

unto cursing, whose end is to be burned." The way that the

husbandman takes with such ground, is, to set fire to it, to burn

up the growth of it.-If you miss this opportunity, there is

danger that you will be utterly rejected, and that your end will

be to be burned. And if this is to be, it is to be feared, that you

are not far from, but nigh unto, cursing.

Those of you that are already grown old in sin, and are now

under awakenings, when you feel your convictions begin to go off,

if ever that should be, then remember what you have now been

told; it may well then strike you to the heart!

IV. I would direct the advice to those that are young, and now

under their first special convictions. I would earnestly urge such

to improve this opportunity, and press into the kingdom of

God.-Consider two things,

1. You have all manner of advantages now centering upon you.

It is a time of great advantage for all; but your advantages are

above others. There is no other sort of persons that have now so

great and happy an opportunity as you have.-You have the great

advantage that is common to all who live in this place, viz. That

now it is a time of the extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit

of God. And have you not that great advantage, the awakening

influences of the Spirit of God on you in particular? and besides,

you have this peculiar advantage, that you are now in your youth.

And added to this, you have another unspeakable advantage, that

you now are under your first convictions. Happy is he that never has

hardened his heart, and blocked up his own way to heaven by

backsliding, and has now the awakening influences of God's

Spirit, if God does but enable him thoroughly to improve them! Such above

all in the world bid fair for the kingdom of God. God is wont on

such, above any kind of persons, as it were easily and readily to

bestow the saving grace and comforts of his Spirit. Instances of

speedy and sudden conversion are most commonly found among such.

Happy are they that have the Spirit of God with them, and never

have quenched it, if they did but know the price they have in

their hands!

If you have a sense of your necessity of salvation, and the

great worth and value of it, you will be willing to take the

surest way to it, or that which has the greatest probability of

success; and that certainly is, thoroughly to improve your first convictions.

If you so go, it is not likely that you will fail; there is the

greatest probability that you will succeed.-What is it not worth,

to have such an advantage in one's hands for obtaining eternal

life? The present season of the pouring out of God's Spirit, is

the first that many of you who are now under awakenings have ever

seen, since you came to years of understanding. On which account,

it is the greatest opportunity that ever you had, and probably by

far the greatest that ever you will have. There are many here

present who wish they had such an opportunity, but they never can

obtain it; they cannot buy it for money; but you have it in your possession,

and can improve it if you will. But yet,

2. There is on some accounts greater danger that such as are

in your circumstances will fail of thoroughly improving their convictions,

with respect to stedfastness and perseverance, than others. Those

that are young are more unstable than elder persons. They who

never had convictions before, have less experience of the

difficulty of the work they have engaged in; they are more ready

to think that they shall obtain salvation easily, and are more

easily discouraged by disappointments; and young persons have

less reason and consideration to fortify them against temptations

to backsliding. You should therefore labour now the more to guard

against such temptations. By all means make but one work of

seeking salvation! Make thorough work of it the first time! There

are vast disadvantages that they bring themselves under, who have

several turns of seeking with great intermissions. By such a course,

persons exceedingly wound their own souls, and entangle themselves

in many snares. Who are those that commonly meet with so many

difficulties, and are so long labouring in darkness and perplexity,

but those who have had several turns at seeking salvation; who

have one while had convictions, and then have quenched them, and

then have set about the work again, and have backslidden again,

and have gone on after that manner? The children of Israel would

not have been forty years in the wilderness, if they had held

their courage, and had gone on as they set out; but they were of

an unstable mind, and were for going back again into Egypt.-Otherwise,

if they had gone right forward without discouragement, as God

would have led them, they would have soon entered and taken possession

of Canaan. They had got to the very borders of it when they

turned back, but were thirty-eight years after that, before they

got through the wilderness. Therefore, as you regard the interest

of your soul, do not run yourself into a like difficulty, by

unsteadiness, intermission, and backsliding; but press right

forward, from henceforth, and make but one work of seeking,

converting, and pardoning grace, however great, and difficult, and

long a work that may be.