Nay, I have known some that have been made to go to hear the Word preached against their wills; others have gone not to hear, but to see and be seen; nay, to jeer and flout others, as well to catch and carp at things. Some also to feed their adulterous eyes with the sight of beautiful objects; and yet God hath made use even of these things, and even of the wicked and sinful proposals of sinners, to bring them under the grace that might save their souls.
Use Seventh. Doth no man come to Jesus Christ but by the drawing, &c., of the Father? Then let me caution those poor sinners, who are spectators of the change that God has wrought in them that are coming to Jesus Christ, not to attribute this work and change to other things and causes.
Some poor sinners in the world plainly see a change, a mighty change, in their Neighbours and relations that are coming to Jesus Christ. But, as I said, they being ignorant, and not knowing whence it comes and whither it goes, for “so is every one that is born of the Spirit,” (John 3:8), therefore they attribute this change to others causes: as melancholy; to sitting alone; to overmuch reading; to their going to too many sermons; to too much studying and musing on what they hear.
Also, they conclude, on the other side, that it is for want of merry company; for want of physic; and therefore they advise them to leave off reading, going to sermons, the company of sober people; and to be merry, to go gossiping, to busy themselves in the things of this world, not to sit musing alone, &c. But come poor ignorant sinner, let me deal with thee. It seems thou art turned counselor for Satan: I tell thee thou knowest not what thou dost. Take heed of spending thy judgment after this manner; thou judges foolishly, and sayest in this, to every one that passed by, thou art a fool. What! count convictions for sin, mourning for sin, and repentance for sin, melancholy? This is like those that on the other side said, “These men are [drunk with] full of new wine,” &c. Or as he said Paul was mad (Acts 2:13, 26:24). Poor ignorant sinner! can't thou judge no better? What! Is sitting alone, pensive under God’s hand, reading the Scriptures, and hearing sermons, &c., the way to be undone? The Lord open thine eyes, and make thee to see the error! Thou hast set thyself against God, thou hast despised the operation of his hands, thou attempts to murder souls. What! Can't thou give no better counsel touching those whom God hath wounded, than to send them to the ordinances of hell for help? Thou bid them be merry and lightsome, but dost thou not know that “the heart of fools is in the house of mirth?” (Eccl 7:4).
Thou bid them shun the hearing of thundering preachers; but is it not “better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools?” (Eccl 7:5). Thou bid them busy themselves in the things of this world; but dost thou not know that the Lord bids, “Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness?” (Matt 6:33). Poor ignorant sinner! hear the counsel of God to such, and learn thyself to be wiser. “Is any afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). “Blessed is the man that hears me” (Prov 8:32). And hear for time to come, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40). “Search the Scriptures” (John 5:39). “Give attendance to reading” (1 Tim 4:13). “It is better to go to the house of mourning” (Eccl 7:2,3).
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