One Hundred and Ninety Sermons, Vol. 2 of 3
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| Stand: | 2015-08-04 03:50:33 |
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Excerpt from One Hundred and Ninety Sermons, Vol. 2 of 3: On the Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm Instances I might give you in several calls and conversions spoken of in Scripture. When Christ called Andrew and Peter, they left their father, and went after him (Mark i. 20). So when Christ called Zaccheus, "he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully" (Luke xix. 6). So Christ to Matthew, "Follow me. And he arose and followed him" (Matt. ix. 9). Julian the apostate scoffs at these passages, as if it were irrational to conceive such a thing could be, that men should so soon leave their course of gain and their calling; or else, that Christ´s followers were a kind of sots and fools, weak and poor-spirited creatures, that, upon a word speaking, they would come oft presently all of a sudden; but impulsions of the spirit carry their own reason with them, and draw the heart without any more ado. But such as be were not acquainted with the workings of the Holy Ghost in conversion, therefore scoff at these things. So, "Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood" (Gal. i. 16): when our call is clear, there needs no debate. When men stand reasoning instead of running, there is not a thorough work upon them. Reason II. - The sooner we turn to the ways of God, the better we speed. How so? 1.Partly in this, that the work goes on the more kindly, as being carried forth in the strength of the present influence and impulsion of grace; whereas, if the heart grow cold again, it will be the more difficult. A blow while the iron is hot, doth more than ten at another time when it grows cold again: so, when thy heart grows cold, thou wilt not have that advantage as when thou art under a warm conviction. And indeed, that is the Devil´s cheat to speak of hereafter, to elude the importunity of the present conviction that is upon you. You know, when the waters were stirred, then was the time to put in: he that stepped in first had experience of the sanative virtue of the waters (John v. 4): so, when the heart is stirred, we should not lose this advantage, but come on upon that call. There are several metaphors in Scripture that do express this: sometimes, we must open when God knocks (Cant, v.);we must enter when God opens, lest the door be shut against us (Matt, xxv.); we must come forth when he bids us, as Lot out of Sodom, lest we perish: when a thing is done speedily and in season, it is a great advantage. 2. The more welcome to God, the sooner we turn to him. We value a gift, not only by its own worth, but by the readiness of him that gives; if we have it at first asking, we count it a greater kindness, and give the more thanks: so the less we stand bucking with God, and demurring upon his call, the more acceptable is our obedience. Pharaoh did at length let Israel go, but was forced to it, and with much ado; no thanks to him. It is true, indeed, if we turn at length seriously, heartily, we are accepted with God, but not so accepted as when we come in at first. Surely, the fewer calls we withstand, the less we provoke God, and the more ready entertainment do we find. The spouse that would not open at the first knock, but only at length when her bowels were troubled, when she thought of her unkindness, then she went out to open to her beloved; but then, her beloved was gone. You will not find God at your beck, when you dally with him. Your comforts will cost you longer waiting for, when you make God wait for entrance, and would not give way to the work of his grace. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
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