THE Service of Jesus Christ, and the Work of Religion, is a Bu­siness of that Honour and migh­ty Importance, that it deserves our most sedulous and constant Endea­vours, and commands a most strict adhe­rence to it from all its Professors.

It requires of all those that engage in it, a resolution to persevere and go thrô all its Stages, and to hold on to the end of its Journey; and to think nothing dear in comparison of the Love of their Master whom they serve, and the Crown of Glo­ry which is propos'd as their Eternal Re­ward. For those that draw back at any little Difficulty, and faint in the hour of Trial, and time of Temptation; that have [Page 18]not spiritual Strength, nor Courage suf­ficient to buoy them up against some Shocks and Oppositions which they must expect to meet with here in the World: Such Persons shall never, at the great Day of Account, be adjudged faithful, or wor­thy of that incomprehensible Felicity, which shall be the Portion of all those that are truly the Servants of Jesus Christ.

Religion carries with it such a Grace and Loveliness, it appears (even to the common Persons of the World) with such a Majesty and Advantage, that he must be strongly engaged in the Work of Sin, and closely fetter'd, even from his Infan­cy, in the slavery of Satan, that never had any Purpose or Resolve to be one of its followers. And I am apt to believe that the far greatest number of Man­kind have at some particular times, in their wisest and most considerate hours, (being convinced of its Worth and Ex­cellency) made Resolutions to set about Godliness, and to walk in the Paths of Vertue and Religion.

But when they have found it a Business of difficulty to quit their Sins, to deny their Lusts; and that the power of Holi­ness would abridg perhaps their Profit and worldly Advantage, and deny them the [Page 19]Excursions of sensual Gratifications; that the way of Piety would sometimes be at­tended with Taunts and Reproaches, and the Thorns and Briars of Affronts and In­dignities: Then, like those whom our Sa­viour describes by receiving Seed on stony Ground, They are presently offended, their Warmth decays, their Zeal grows cold, and they falter and stumble, and at last desist from their good Resolutions.

And tho they have often, on a new fit of Zeal, springing from a restored sense of the Excellency, Benefit, and absolute Necessity of a holy Life, renewed their Attempts to proceed in Piety: Yet Satan and the World returning again with strong Al­lurements to the ways of Sin, All their good Purposes, like an evening Cloud, have vanished away, and they have easily return'd to their former Follies, put on their old Fetters, and been bassled and beat off from all their Religious Undertakings. Like the Children of Israel, when deliver'd out of Egypt, and pursuing their Journey to the promised Land; yet by and by their Appetite (tho they fed upon Angels Food) gave them an hankering for Me­lons, and Cucumbers, and Garlick, and Onions; and this (tho an Argument of prodigious Folly, yet) made them in their [Page 20]hearts return back to the House of Bon­dage. So These not being constant in hea­venly Resolutions, have look'd back with eyes of Affection on the Pleasures of Sin, and the Delights of the World, and could not keep up to the just tenour of their own good Purposes.

But yet notwithstanding, being still per­haps under the sense of Conviction, and the strugglings of Conscience; in order therefore to silence That, and to rebate its edg, they have at last fall'n on the same Project with those Strangers plan­ted by Shalmaneser the King of Assyria in the Cities of Israel; who when Lions were sent among them, because they feared not the Lord, (2 King. 17.13.) in order to remove the Plague, and yet not wholly quit their Idolatry, they made a mixture of Religion, and serv'd God and their I­dols. And so the Persons, which fall un­der the Character which I have been now describing, will endeavour to reconcile their temporal and spiritual Interest, and carry on both, mix the Concerns of Time and Eternity, and be moderately religi­ous, and moderately wicked: And reply to the inward Arguings and Reproofs of their own Mind, when that checks them for the decays of their former Zeal, and [Page 21]their state of Lukewarmness, and declining their first Love:

‘Why should I attempt a Degree of Holiness above others, by appearing in a singular Zeal in the Cause of Religion? And not only concern my self for my own Salvation, but also for the Salvation of the Souls of my Neighbours, as if I were made my Brother's Keeper? And perhaps after all, my Zeal may be no bet­ter than folly, in procuring the Frowns of Superiors, the Loss of a Customer, the Coldness of a Friend, the Shyness of an Acquaintance, because I am now still on the Rebuke, and pressing the Duties of a rigid Piety on all occasions. And it may savour of Presumption too, and a sond conceit of my own Abilities, to attempt the Reformation of the Age, and to a­mend the World. My Zeal may be too hot, as well as too cold; and Moderation and Self-preservation too is good in all things. And therefore since Piety ought to be mix'd with Prudence, let me not exceed the Rules of Discretion.’

Such Returns as these to the Calls of Conscience, are very apt to stifie it, when the Will and Affections remain unsanctifi­ed, or in a meer moral State. And Men may please themselves that all shall do well, [Page 22]and that Heaven and Eternity may still be gain'd, and Salvation secur'd without so much ado as some Persons make, and that they themselves have been more warm than wise in the Business of Religion: And worldly Interest, and mundane Designs, and sinful Pleasures, egging on such thoughts, and urging such false and sinful Arguments; it becomes a snare and a stumbling-block to multitudes, who still may think their eternal Welfare secure e­nough under the decays and apparent wa­nings of their former Zeal and Holiness.

But that such Persons as these are in a dangerous state, and altogether unfit for the Service of Jesus Christ, and the Glory of his Kingdom, and to have their Names inserted in the Book of Life, our Lord in­forms us here in this Chapter, by the obser­vation which he himself made on the com­portment of some who pretended a great desire to be his Disciples. In the 57th Verse of this Chapter we read, that a certain Per­son appli'd himself unto our Lord with ve­ry great (seeming) Zeal and Affection to his Service, Lord, I will follow thee whither soever thou goest. But on our Lord's telling him, that if he would engage in that Undertak­ing, he must not expect any secular advan­tage, but rather the contrary; in regard [Page 23]that tho the Foxes had Holes, Dens wherein to lodg; and the Birds of the Air bad Nests, places to retreat to, to roost in all the night: Yet he (tho Lord of all things) here in the World, had no where to lay his Head; no House, no Bed, no place of his own to re­ceive him; and therefore none were to expect the Advantages of this World, by an entrance into his Service: on which we read no farther, and hear no more of this great Pretender. And calling to another, v. 59. to come and follow him; he desires first, that he might have leisure to bury his Father. He did not absolutely refuse to obey our Lord's Command, but he was willing to procrastinate and put off the time. And a 3d seeming willing to be his Disciple, yet would excuse himself from the immediate attendance on his Service; Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first bid them farewel which are at home. To whom our Lord replies in the words of the Text, No Man having put his hand to the Plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God: i.e. No Man having engag'd himself to my Service, and after turning back to his se­cular Concerns, with a regard had first to those, is fit for the Kingdom of God. The words are allegorical, pressing a constancy to the Service of Christ, from the dili­gence [Page 24]of him that tills the Ground: As if our Lord had said, ‘He that holds the Plough, must keep to his Business, not look behind him, or neglect his Work, to trifle about other things that come into his head; if he does, he's unfit for such an Im­ployment as requires a constant atten­dance on it. So those that enter into my Service, they must put on Resolution, and not make vain and trifling Excuses to re­turn back to the Affairs of the World, but be constant and sedulous, otherwise they are not qualified to be my Disciples; and so by consequence are unfit for the Glo­ries of my Kingdom, which are only de­sign'd as the blessed Rewards of the sincere­ly Faithful, and constantly Laborious.’

The Text appears to be a severe Re­proof levell'd against the coldness and neg­ligent carriage of too many who profess to be Disciples of Jesus Christ; who having engag'd themselves by their Character and Vows, by their Office and Order, by their Profession and Pretensions, to be his Follow­ers, to espouse the Cause of Religion, and Piety, and the Interest of Holiness; and yet after all these solemn Declarations, by a sad Tergiversation return to the World and the things thereof, and to a remiss and loose state of Life: And like Lot's Wife [Page 25]by Sodom, tho they were once, by themer­ciful hand of convincing Grace, brought out of that supine and sinful Condition in which by Nature they lay, after all those Enlightnings and Lectures of their own Consciences, do return again like the Dog to his Vomit, to their former Corruptions; or at least with longing Desires and incur­ved Hearts, look back to that state which will become a Prey to Fire and Brimstone.

In speaking therefore on this Subject, I shall endeavour to do these following things.

• I. To shew what it is to put our Hands to the Plough.
• II. To shew what it is to look back.
• III. To shew the Danger and sad Conse­quence of such a dreadful Retro­spection, after we have been engag'd in so good a Work; which is, That such Persons are not fit for the Kingdom of God.

I. For the first, What it is to put our Hands to the Plough.

Since our Lord himself is pleas'd to make use of this so plain and homely a Meta­phor; I hope it cannot savour of Clow­nishness or Rusticity to follow his Ex­ample; [Page 26]and since he applies it to those who make a Profession of being his Disciples, and afterwards withdraw themselves from his Service, I am sure it's safe and easy too to follow such an Expositor. The Plough, we know, is an Instrument of Husbandry, and they that hold it render the Ground fit for Seed; and this apply'd spiritually, signifies all those that labour to make the World fit to bring forth fruits of Peace, that strive to reform the deplo­rable state of Mankind, and to render Mens Hearts capable to receive the Seed of the Word.

To put our hands to the Plough there­fore, is to declare against Sin and the Kingdom of Satan, and to act against it in our Station: It is to engage in the ser­vice of Jesus Christ, to endeavour to rend­er the Church fruitful of good Works: 'tis to commence an holy Warfare a­gainst the state of Darkness, to suppress Vice, and encourage Holiness, and to do what in us lies to carry on the Cause and Interest of Religion. 'Tis with an holy Zeal, and an undauntedness of Mind to make opposition against that torrent of Vice which is breaking in upon the face of the Church; and not only to reform our selves, and bring our own Lives into a con­formity [Page 27]to the Divine Pleasure, but also strenuously endeavour to reform others; to break up that Soil which is crusted over with a Callus of Sin, and to render it fit for the ingrafted Word of the Gospel to enter. 'Tis, in a word, publickly to e­spouse the Cause and Honour of Religion, and to give a check to the growing Pro­gress of the Synagogue of Satan.

And since the Church of God, in holy Scripture, is compar'd to a Field, as our Lord himself delivers it in that Parable (Mat. 13.) of the Wheat and the Tares; let us consider how much every parti­cular Person is concern'd in the Tillage and Cultivation of it, in order that a bountiful Crop of Righteousness may be brought forth to the Glory of God, and the Salvation of those that labour in this holy Imployment.

1st. Every Man by Nature is a barren Ground, in which only the Seeds of Sin spring up and fructify, to the dishonour of God, and destruction of himself. And since by that infinite Love of God, in giving Jesus Christ, and contracting with us on conditions of Love, he has render'd us capable of bringing forth Fruits meet for Repentance, and reaping, as the effect of such a gracious Harvest, eternal Life: [Page 28]And since on our entring into this contract of Peace (I mean, the Covenant of the Gospel) we have sworn to our great Mas­ter to become his Subjects and Servants, to labour in his Vineyard, to be diligent in his Work; the neglect and breach of which awful Vow, will terminate in Destruction: Every one therefore that is baptized into Christ, and has put on Christ, and has re­ceived the Seal of the Covenant of Grace confirm'd by our Redeemer between God and Us, has put his Hand to the Plough: He has vowed himself to be the obedient Servant of Jesus Christ, and has declar'd himself an irreconcileable Enemy to all Ungodliness; he has promis'd, according to the Prophet, Jer. 4.3. To break up the fallow Ground of his Heart, and not to sow among Thorns: and agreeable to Hosea 10.12. To sow to himself in Righteousness, and thereby to reap Mercy, to break up the fallow Ground, since it's time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain Righteousness upon him. But,

2dly. Since we are not design'd by our great Creator for our selves alone, but made for Society, and therefore for the Good and Comfort of others: And since in this regard there must be a discrimina­tion of Persons, in respect of Superiority and Inferiority, it will be fit to consider, [Page 29]how far we have put our Hand to this good Work in the behalf of others, and who those are that are more particularly concern'd in it. And in doing this, I shall briefly consider the three great Divisions into which all Men are rank'd, viz. Those of Magistrates, Ministers, and People; and shew how far each are more than others obliged, and have more immediately set their Hand to the Plough.

1. As to Magistrates. A state of Go­vernment among Men is appointed by the Light of Nature, as well as by the Law of God: and since those that are Governours ought to be Copies and Patterns for the Governed, therefore are Those more e­specially concern'd in directing others by wholesom Laws, and just Sanctions, where­by the Honour of God, and the present and future Good of Mankind may be sup­ported.

Magistrates are the Representatives of God; and if they will not render them­selves altogether unlike the Majesty of Heaven, and unfit for, and unworthy of the Character they bear, they must more especially imitate God, in bestowing Fa­vours and Encouragements on the Vertu­ous, and by inflicting Punishments on the Vicious.

'Tis their more immediate Duty to enact and execute such Laws, as may be for the suppressing of Sin, and encouraging Ho­liness. And since the highest Magistrate in this our happy form of Government, I mean our Sovereign, (on whose Head the Almighty pour down streams of Mer­cy) is obliged by the solemnity of an Oath, to administer Justice in Mercy un­to all his People; I hope all those that are delegated by him to be his Substitutes, are, and will be so conscientious in the performance of their Duty, that That Justice which we owe to God in obeying his Laws, as well as That which we owe to Men in preserving their Right, may be truly and impartially executed, accord­ing to St. Peter's Rule, 1 Pet. 2.14. For the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well: Since they can­not bear the Sword in vain, but it must be drawn forth by them to establish Righ­teousness, or else will be drawn forth on them to strike themselves into eternal Confusion.

And since God has called Magistrates to such an high degree of Honour, that they are his Vice-gerents; they therefore by virtue of the acceptation of their Office, have put their Hands to this good Work, [Page 31]being called to be nursing Fathers of the Church; and they bear the Sword of God for this very purpose, not to be a terror unto good Works, but unto the Evil. And if Any should remain idle and neg­ligent, or take up this Office for any sinister Ends, to serve themselves ra­ther than the Publick, to sit down in sloth rather than to cultivate the field of God's Church, such Persons become guilty of a most wretched Sacrilege; and have the greatest Cause to fear, that their Swords, which have not been imploy'd in the Cause of Vertue, Justice, and Piety, shall be turn'd into Darts, and level'd against themselves in the day of eternal Wrath and Vengeance.

All Magistrates therefore, whose busi­ness it is to put in execution those excel­lent Laws which are enacted for the pro­pagation of Godliness, and correction of Sin; Those on the account of their Honour and Office, have put their Hands to the Plough of God.

2. Another sort of Men who are more especially engag'd to this good Work, are Ministers; Those I mean, who are called to preach the Gospel, and to declare the glad tidings of Reconciliation between God and Men, by the Man-Christ Jesus. And [Page 32]We indeed of all Men are more immediate­ly concern'd, since our whole Life ought to be dedicated to this heavenly Work, to la­bour for the Conversion and eternal Salva­tion of Mens Immortal Souls; to shew them the danger, and the fatal event of an ill-spent Life, and a Conversation im­ploy'd in the works of Sin. The Lord has shewn us our Dignity and Duty, by the Prophet Ezekiel, ch. 33.7. O Son of Man, I have set thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my Mouth, and warn them from me. And if we who are called to this Sacred Digni­ty, of hearing the Word at the Mouth of God, of having his Oracles committed un­to us, who are made Ambassadors of Je­sus Christ, to declare God reconciled to the World on the Terms of the Gospel: If we fail of rebuking, reproving, and ex­horting, with all Gentleness, Meekness, and Love; if we fall under the Character of idle Shepherds, neglecting the Flock, thro our want of Zeal in the Cause of Je­sus Christ, and by ceasing to declare the whole Counsels of God for Mens Salva­tion: we shall find our Account so heavy at the great and general Audit of the World, that no Doom will be equal to the Condemnation of such who have thus pre­varicated, [Page 33]and wretchedly slighted their Office and Business, Ezek. 33.8.

It's the greatest Honour we are capable of, in being brought nigh to God, and in­trusted with the Ministration of the Word of Life, to be appointed principal La­bourers in raising the glorious Building of the Church of Christ; to be dignified with the Character of the Legats of Hea­ven, sent in the blessed Errand of invit­ing Men to become reconciled to God. And as the Reward of such shall be infi­nitely great, who shall with Conscience and Zeal discharge this Duty, they shall shine as the Stars in the Firmament for ever and ever: So the Punishment also of those that neglect this Duty, shall be inconceiv­ably great, the Blood of Souls shall be re­quired at their hands, and the Smoke of their Torments shall ascend up for ever and ever.

Ministers therefore are another sort of Persons, who have peculiarly engag'd themselves to labour in God's Field, to carry on the Design and Interest of Holi­ness, who have put their hand to the Plough of God.

3dly. Not only Magistrates and Mini­sters, but every Private Christian, by the Ties of Humanity, and the Obligations [Page 34]of Religion, is bound to this Work. For since the Cause of Religion is the common Cause of every Member of the Church of Christ: Since we are obliged by our Bap­tismal Vow, to fight against Sin, the World, and the Devil; and are bound, by virtue of our Allegiance to our Redeemer, to endeavour to exalt his Kingdom, and to increase the number of his Subjects: Every Man therefore is concern'd for his Neighbour, is obliged for his Brother, to do what is possible to pluck him out of the Power of Satan, and to bring him in­to a state of Mercy through obedience to Jesus Christ. And since there's a princi­ple of Love and natural Compassion in all Mankind, which is wonderfully im­prov'd and sanctified by Grace; so that every one that comes to consider the worth of his own immortal Soul, will have a concern of Charity for the Soul of ano­ther: Therefore we ought to be (and in­deed we shall be if we are our selves rege­nerate) solicitous for the Salvation of all Mankind; and every Man will become a friendly Monitor unto his Neighbour, and will come to him in Prudence, in Kindness and Secrecy, if he see him negligent in the important Concern of his eternal Wel­fare, and will request him to beware of [Page 35]his heedless Condition; that he'd take some cognizance of the way in which he is walking, whither it tends, and where 'twill end; that he'd not rush into the Gulph of everlasting Destruction thro' folly and incogitancy, but consider the Weight of Eternity, the Worth of his Soul, and the Love of God, and the Value of Heaven, and the dreadful State of Eternal Vengeance; and that he'd labour earnest­ly to obtain the one, and avoid the other. And this is a Duty which we owe to Man­kind, both as we are of the same Nature, and as we are commanded by the Divine Word, Lev. 19.17. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour, and not suffer Sin upon him. And so St. Paul, Heb. 3.13. Exhort one another daily, while it is called, To day: And (in another place) let us provoke one a­nother to Love, and to good Works. And far­ther, We are not only to Perswade our Neighbours, and to use all the Methods of Love and Kindness to engage them to their Duty; but also, since some are so abomi­nably vicious, that nothing but the terror and punishment of the Magistrate can re­strain them from the open violation of the Law of God; therefore it's the Duty of every Man to detect Such unto the Magi­strate, that where the Force of Perswasion [Page 36]cannot prevail, there the Power of the Sword may restrain. And that 'tis our Duty thus to discover all such Persons who are the Open and Notorious Opposers of Piety, and endeavour to bring upon them legal Inflictions; not only appears from the nature of the thing, but also from a consideration of that general Duty which lies upon us, to labour for the support of the Kingdom of Christ, and the suppressi­on and destruction of the Power of Satan. And since there are Many so deplorably wicked, that the whole Bent and Stream of their Conversation is scandalous and vi­cious, offensive to God, destructive to Themselves, and pernicious to Others: Therefore every Man is bound in Consci­ence to God, and in Honour to Vertue, to make such Persons publick Examples, by labouring to inflict those Penalties upon them, which our good and wholsom Laws have determined.

'Tis our great happiness, that we live under a Government where Iniquity is so far from being established by a Law, or so much as left Neutral, that 'tis not only for­bidden, but also punished. But our Laws are nothing but dead Letters, and Justice holds but a wooden Sword without execu­tion; for 'tis that which is the Life of the [Page 37]Law it self, and the Honour of that People which enjoy such wholesom Constitutions. And since Magistrates, to whom the execu­tion of our Laws are committed, cannot do it, without information of the Persons and Crimes of Offenders; therefore 'tis every Man's Duty, as he tenders the Honour of God, and the Glory of the Gospel, the In­crease of the Church, and the Good of the Weal-Publick, and as He would not be a partaker of other Mens Sins in hiding and concealing them, to detect such as openly and commonly affront the Majesty of God, and the Authority of Man, by notorious Vices, and those scandalous Impieties which make us stink in the Nostrils of the Al­mighty, and bring down his Plagues and Judgments upon us.

But this Point having been formerly so well prov'd in this place, and on this occa­sion, in former Discourses, I shall therefore proceed towards a conclusion of the first head of the Text, That Magistrates by their Power, Ministers by their Office, and every Christian by his Character as such, has put his Hand to the Plough of God, has given in his Name as a Labourer in the Field of the Church of Christ, in order to root out the Weeds of Impiety, and to sow and cherish the good Seed of Grace, that we [Page 38]may all grow up to Eternal Life.

But besides all this, more particularly God has stirr'd up the Hearts of Some in and about this Great City, whose Numbers God of his Mercy increase, and whose Zeal God of his Goodness augment, who have united themselves in Religious Fraternities, for the more effectual carrying on of This Glorious and never to be enough commended Work, of giving a check to Vice, and reform­ing (if possible) the corrupt and depraved Manners of the unhappy Age in which we live. And You who are enter'd into this Noble Design, whose Hearts God has more especially touch'd with a sense of your Duty, You have in a more than ordinary manner put your hand to the Plough. And to encourage you in it, I shall truly affirm that this Work, and the Undertakers of it, are the great springing Glory of our Church, and a comfortable Testimony that God has not utterly left us off to Judgment.

This is a Design worthy of Men, as we are the Image of God; and worthy of Christians, as we are the Disciples of Je­sus Christ. 'Tis the Cause of God that you have undertaken, in opposition to the Devil; and the Cause of Vertue, in oppo­sition to Vice; and of Religion, in oppo­sition [Page 39]to Atheism. 'Tis an Enterprize that is every way praise-worthy; and I may speak it with a sufficient degree of Reve­rence, 'Tis worthy of God to own, and Men to prosecute; and I hope it's carried on by Means that are agreeable unto the noble End which it designs. And certainly no Man can oppose it, or become an Enemy unto it, that does not first by his own Life render himself obnoxious to it.

But now, my Brethren, if after you have thus begun in a Divine Work, and have increas'd your Numbers, and diffus'd your Design throughout the Parts of this mighty City; and you have seen many good Fruits of these your Endeavours, In cleansing ma­ny Augean Stables of Lust and Filthiness; In making many, who made no conscience of profaning the Name of God, to set a bar before their Lips; In repressing the Dis­orders which are too frequently commit­ted on the Lord's Day; And (in charity one may hope) of bringing several to a sense of their Sin, and to a sincere Repentance, and to bless the Almighty for this your Undertaking: Now if after all this, Sa­tan should become so mischievously suc­cessful as to stifle your Zeal, and to baffle you in your Work by the little Mocks, Scoffs, and Taunts of those that are his A­gents; [Page 40]If you faint at the opposition that you must expect to meet with from the Frowns of Some, and the Threats of Others: If this beat you out of the Field into which you have entred in order to work: It would not only be a sad Omen of your own Spiri­tual Decay, but be also a great Discourage­ment unto Others; and would give the greatest blow unto the Cause of Religion, by adding the Trophies and Ensigns of Success, to the black Triumphs of the Prince of Darkness.

But this I shall farther insist on in the next part of the Text, which is,

II. To shew what 'tis to look back.

As the putting our Hand to the Plough intends the ingaging our selves in the Cause and Interest of Holiness, and endeavour­ing the repressing of Sin, and propagation of Piety; so to look back signifies, a with­drawing our Affections and Endeavours from it, and a relinquishing this so glori­ous and commendable an Enterprize.

And in speaking of this, I shall briefly take notice, 1st, of the Persons; and 2dly, Of the Temptations inducing to this sinful Retrospection.

And in the first place, as to the Persons; I cannot but briefly remark with a melan­choly [Page 41]Reflection, that not only vast Num­bers, who are engag'd by the awful Obli­gations of Baptism, have no more sense of their Duty and Interest, than if they had been brought up in a Land of Darkness. Not only great Multitudes hear the Gospel every day, and themselves also read the Holy Scriptures, and yet they are to 'em as a Book seal'd; they neither feel, nor un­derstand their Power and Life.

But also there are others, who have had a sight and sense of their Duty, have been under Convictions, and taken up Resolu­tions for Heaven and Eternity; and yet all their Purposes, like Ephraim's Righteous­ness, have been but as a morning Dew, which is presently consum'd with the heat of the next approaching Temptation. And this is very sadly to look back, after we have set our Hands to the Plough: when we have felt the warmings of the Divine Spirit in our Hearts, the incubations of the Holy Ghost brooding on our Souls, in or­der to bring forth the Image of God in a state of renewed Holiness; when we have made some advances in Piety, and have be­gun in the Spirit, yet after all to end in the Flesh; this is miserably to look back from our Employment, and solemn En­gagement.

But 2dly, to carry on my Application.

You, Gentlemen, who have promis'd to become the Servants of Jesus Christ, not only by the Vow of your Baptism, but also by the Rules of those Religious Associati­ons into which you are engag'd, to encou­rage one another to walk as becomes the Gospel, and to declare your selves the Op­ponents to Vice and Ungodliness, and to repress Profanation, Debauchery, and Ex­cess, within your sphere and knowledg, by endeavouring to give Life and Vigour to those good Laws, which our Pious Le­gislators have establish'd for this End: Consider, you have put your Hand to the Plough of God; for 'tis his Cause that you are engag'd in; and if upon the account of some little opposition, you withdraw your Assistance, or stop in your Duty, this is the looking back here intimated in the Text.

I beg, Gentlemen, I may not be mistaken, as if I was afraid you were weary of that good Work which you have set your Hands unto, and were about to relinquish it; my Discourse proceeds from another Design, namely, That by shewing the great Mischief which must attend your forsak­ing this Cause, I might the more effectu­ally recommend it to your Selves, and per­swade [Page 43] Others to engage in it, and encou­rage your Zeal to all the prudential and vigorous Methods which are needful for its Prosecution.

But yet, since 'tis not impossible, but some who have set their Hands to this good Work may look back, may flag in their Diligence, and cool in their Affecti­ons; I shall briefly take notice of some of the Temptations tending to it; and these fall under one or the other of these 3 Heads.

1st. Fear. 2dly. Shame. 3dly. Sloth.

1st. Fear. When a Person that has not first sat down and counted the Cost, what it will stand him in to be the Soldier of Je­sus Christ, and what degree of Valour and holy Resolution it requires to fight in this glorious Cause, and to labour in this Work; that he must be sincere and impar­tial, not afraid of the Reproaches of the Small, or the Frowns of the Great, or any diminution of his temporal Interest: when such a Person finds that the Cause he has undertook may eclipse his Profit, and that there is indeed greater Oppositi­on than he expected; then he begins to faint, and to chill in his Warmth, and to find excuses for his Recession. But let such consider, that St. John tells us, That the Fearful, as well as the Ʋnbelieving, shall have [Page 44]their part in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone, Rev. 21.8. i. e. Such who faint in the spiritual Warfare, and have not courage enough to stand up for the Cause of Jesus Christ, in opposition to the Conveniencies and Friendships of the World, such are unfit for the Kingdom of God. And as Solomon observes, That the fear of Man bringeth a Snare, Prov. 29.25. a Snare on the Conscience, and an intang­ling hindrance to religious Duties; so He that ventures upon the displeasure of God rather than Man, or whom sordid appre­hensions of worldly loss, or the breach of carnal Friendship, or the browbeatings of the Powerful, can beat off from his Work; such a Person does hereby render himself unfit for that blessed Sentence, of Well done good and faithful Servant, enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. For he that cannot ven­ture himself on the Cause of Christ Jesus, and whose Faith is too feeble to shore him up from sinking under the fear of Men; such a Person is a miserable Bondman to the World, how fair soever his pretensi­ons may be to Regeneration and Holiness of Life. But, Beloved, I believe and hope better things of you, and things that accompa­ny a zeal of Sincerity, and a vigorous pro­secution of your glorious Undertaking.

2dly. Shame is another Temptation to induce Men to look back.

It has been the chiefest Policy of Satan, ever since God has (in wonderful Mercy unto his Church) been pleas'd to stop the violence of his Rage and Persecution, to oppose Religion by Scoffs and Mockings at those that will not still remain his Vas­sals. And our Age and Nation has been so unhappily exercised by this stratagem of Hell, that one would be tempted to think, that the Prophecy of St. Peter look'd at these Days, 2 Pet. 3.3. Knowing this, that there shall come in the last days Scoffers, walking after their own Lusts. For how has Holiness of Life been ridicul'd, and the Power of Godliness, and the Life of the the Spirit, and a state of Conversion and Regeneration, been made the subject of impious Derision, and scornful Reproach, insomuch, that Some have been even a­sham'd to own themselves so good as they really were, for fear that some name of Ignominy and Contempt would be cast upon them?

And indeed I do not find any Oppositi­on greater than this, to balk you in the way of your vertuous procedure. But to counterpoise this, remember that you are engag'd to own the Cause of a Crucified [Page 46]Jesus, of him that was number'd among the Transgressors, and who endured the Cross, and despised the Shame; and if you have not constancy enough to bear a little Reproach for the sake of our great Master, and to be contented to undergo the name of Informers, and busy Fellows, or such who make a noise to get your selves a Name; if you cannot patiently endure the Reproaches of the Agents of Hell, and the Lies and Scandals they will cast at your Doors; if you faint at this Trial (as Sy­racides says) your Strength is small.

And if this should induce any Member to look back, let him be afraid of being hereby made unfit for the Kingdom of God: for remember what our Lord tells us, Mark 8.38. Whosoever shall be asham'd of me, and of my Words, in this adulterous and sinful Generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be asham'd, when he cometh in the Glory of his Father, with the Holy Angels.

3dly. Sloth may be another inducement to look back: For He that applies himself to this good Work with that fitness which it requires, ought to be a Person of Industry and Diligence, he must dedicate some part of his time for fighting the Lord's Battels against the publick Goliahs of the Armies of Hell; he ought to appear personally in [Page 47]the Cause that he has undertook, and not think it enough that he has been a Con­tributor towards the Charge of this glori­ous Fabrick of Reformation.

For tho I do not question but that every Penny that's bestowed on this Account, is as true Charity, as feeding the Hungry, or clothing the Naked, and has also in it something of an excellency far beyond it, as a Compassion on Mens Immortal Souls does exceed the pity that's exprest to their Bodies; yet I cannot chuse but deliver my Judgment in this matter, altho it should happen to be contrary to the Senti­ments of some here present, That the poor­est Member of these Societies, who by a personal endeavour labours in this Work, who sacrifices his Time and Pains at this Altar, his Offering is greater, and he casts in more to his Corban, than they who of their abun­dance bestow many Pounds yearly: Not that I blame, no, I commend the One, but I highly praise and extol the Other; and I do it in order to give all possible Encouragement to a personal, zealous, and avowed Prosecution of this Heroick Undertaking.

Lastly, To conclude this Point, I shall add a word to encourage to an exemplary Holiness of Life.

And this, if You who have undertaken to be the Patrons of Vertue, and support­ers of Piety, shall fail in; if you shall sink down from your exalted Post, to the Temptations of the World, and be taken in the snares of Vice and Dishonesty, this will be such a Tergiversation, as must not only be satal to your selves, but also to your Design; and will cast the blackest Cloud on the honest and sincere endea­vours of those that are join'd with you. It will open a Door to all the foul Re­proaches that Hell can invent, and the Agents thereof inject upon you; which will not only fall with the greatest weight on the Heads of the Guilty, but will also affect those that are Innocent.

It therefore becomes every one that is engag'd in this Holy Work, to walk cir­cumspectly, not as Fools, but as Wise, considering the Eagle Eyes of all your Adversaries await your steps; and no­thing can give them such an occasion of impious Joy, as your stumbling and faul­tering at the same Stones which you en­deavour to remove: and this will indeed be the worst sort of looking back which possibly you can commit. Be therefore wise as Serpents, and harmless as Doves: And as glorious Designs must be managed with [Page 49]the highest Prudence in order to secure 'em from the reproaches of their Ene­mies; so let this be attended with a Wis­dom and Circumspection agreeable to it, such as your Adversaries cannot gainsay or resist. And to obtain this, be instant in Prayer, that That Great God, whose Cause you have undertaken, would give a particular Blessing, in directing every Member so to walk, that you may be blameless and harmless, the Sons of God with­out rebuke, in the midst of a perverse and crook­ed Generation, among whom ye shine as Lights in the World, and as Patterns of Piety, Humility, and Meekness, and every thing that is praise-worthy.

III. I come now to the last part of the Text, which is, to shew the Danger and sad Consequence of such a dreadful Retro­spection, after we have been engag'd in so good an Employment, Which is, that such Persons who look back, are not fit for the Kingdom of God.

And having already in my former Discourse, given frequent hints of this, I shall be very brief on this Topick, that I may oppress your Patience no longer. In order to which, I will not inlarge what is here meant by the Kingdom of God, [Page 50]in regard the sense is obvious to every Ca­pacity, it signifying the Enjoyment of all that Happiness which Jesus has purchased, and is gone into Heaven to prepare for his Church and People. And as those who are not fit for the Glories of this King­dom, do not only miss of Happiness, but fall into Misery; so That shews something more than the loss of Heaven, there's an implication of the Punishment of Hell.

The loss therefore of Eternal Life, and the Condemnation to everlasting Venge­ance, must strike Terror one very one that considers the worth of his never-dying Soul, and what 'tis to undergo the Wrath of God for ever and ever. But yet this must kindle a greater fire of Torment in the Consciences of Some, than of Others: for he that never had the Means of Salva­tion, or on whom they never came with Power and Efficacy, the Reflections of Such can never be so bitter, so sharp, and stinging, as of Those who have had the clearer discoveries of Divine Light and Love. And therefore for such who have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good Word of God, and the Powers of the World to come, if They fall away, it's not only impossible to renew them again by Repentance, but al­so [Page 51]to render their Condemnation half so tolerable as of those who had never those participations.

Consider therefore, You who have put your Hands to the Spiritual Plough, in order to cultivate both your selves and others; if you, after both the Vow of your Baptism, inward Conviction, and out­ward Profession, and a more than ordina­ry obliging your selves to the Service of Christ Jesus; If You look back, of all Per­sons in the World, you are most unfit for the glorious Kingdom. The Backslider in Heart (says Solomon) shall be filled with his own Ways, Prov. 14.14. i. e. shall reap the fruits of his own Folly. But as I hope you have well consider'd the weight of the Work which you have undertook, so I trust your Perseverance in it will be­come a Pattern to succeeding Times, and other Places. And that your Zeal, your Wisdom, and Prudence, will be still more and more Illustrious, and fit you for the love of all good Men here, and for great­er than ordinary degrees of Glory here­after. And agreeable hereunto this Ob­servation shall shut up my Discourse, That as he that looks back is unfit, so he that goes on and prosecutes his Work, that has an eye of Resolution, looking [Page 52]forward on his Duty, such a Person is thro' Jesus Christ fit for the Favour and King­dom of God. And your being Such, will add to your Crown another day, and will advance you above the common Blessing of Heaven, and of eternal Life; your Zeal and Constancy will be rewarded with a double Portion of everlasting Glory. For the God that you serve, is not un­righteous to forget your Works and la­bours of Love, but will be a Master of the greatest bounty, in liberally requiting all your diligent and faithful Services.

And that you may All be set down in the number of those that have endured to the End, and have finished your Work with Joy and Faithfulness: This the Almighty grant, by the Assistance of his Holy Spirit, thro' Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.