act but as we are acted, tho' in a way agreeable to the rational nature: and should God ceafe to work, or withdraw the influences of his Spirit, the foul would be like a fhip at sea without a gale of wind, never like to reach its defired haven. Who can think of their dependance upon the divine grace in every step they take in the way to the kingdom of heaven, and not tremble at the bare fuppofition of being deprived of it, before they are got home. (2.) It may be, we long neglected to work out our falvation, and refused to receive affifting grace, before we could be prevailed with to fet about it: and how justly may the divine influence be with drawn or denied, when needed, which we have fo often forfeited, and rendered ourfelves unworthy of? Now, sense of this fhould haften, not damp our endeavours for the future, to comply, and heartily concur with the affifting grace of God in working out our falvation.

(3.) We have deceitful treacherous hearts, prone by floth, and very direct oppofition too, to grieve the bleffed Spirit of God, when it moveth us to work as we ought in the bufinefs of our falvation and if we turn back from God a while longer, how foon may we be forsaken of it.

(4.) How much is to be done, not only to begin, but to compleat our falvation after it is begun? As often as the finner looks into his dark mind, his perverfe will, his corrupt heart; O the concern he fees reafon for, left all fhould not be finished in the time allotted.

(5.) The time for all this is uncertain and short. How much is to be done, and how fast is the season for this going away? how foon will it be over, and it may be, much fooner than we are aware of? (6.) The

(6.) The bleffedness is unspeakable that salvation takes in, which may well fill the foul with concern, left it should come fhort of it; as it certainly will, fhould God ceafe to work: and he is at liberty as to this, working to will and to do, of his good pleasure.

(7.) Their cafe is most dreadful, who by withftanding it in its feafon of working upon them, forfeit and lose the divine grace and help; and fo inftead of fecuring their falvation, fall at laft into perdition. What remains, is the v

APPLICATION.

And here, 1. What a view does this give us of the stupidity in which finners are involved, in that when falvation is needed by them all, fo few have any concern about it. Salvation to be wrought out for him, fpeaks the finner in a very deplorable state now, and in danger of a worfe.. Much is to be done in order to his being faved; and without it, he is eternally loft. But how small is their number who beftir themselves in this important affair? In what deep fecurity are many buried, minding nothing less than the business of their falvation; and yet, in the neglect of this, have nothing to expect but endless mifery for their portion? :

How fad is fuch a cafe as this, and how affecting fhould it be to us, to have before our eyes the profpect of multitudes upon the brink of deftruction, and doing no more to their efcape, than if they were in no danger? How many fink fecure into the place of torment, from whence there is no redemption?

2. How great a mercy is the gospel, and how great their privilege who live under it? O the mercy to have our lot caft where we may read and hear of the grace that bringeth falvation, that

yet

yet it may be had, and of the way we are to takę in order to to it! O the difference put between us and apoftate, angels, and between us and many obftinate finners, who once lived under the fame gofpel with us, where they heard of falvation, but making light of it, are now removed and fallen under greater condemnation.

3. As the command in the text intimates God's defire of finners falvation, how reafonable must it be in thofe to whom it is fent, to give way to despair? Why should I throw up all hope of reaching what God has declared himself fo willing I fhould reach? Whilft fuch a command continues, defpair must be a fin, and hope a duty; as defpair ftops all endeavours and fo tends to deftruction, but hope is the fpring of all we do in working out our falvation; upon, which account we are faid to be faved by hope, Rom. viii. 24.

He that has bid us to work out our falvation, has, by that very order, bid us admit and nourish hope concerning it; hope that what we do in obedience to him, and dependance upon him, fhall not be in vain.

When I have God's warrant, why fhould I defpair of his help? Fown that I am a loft and perishing creature, but have heard that God delighteth not in the death of finners, but would rather that they should come to the knowledge of the truth, that they may be faved: and in order to it this is his voice in the gofpel, work out your falvation. And tho' I have too long delayed; yet this command being ftill repeated, leaves fome ground of hope.

Say not therefore the accepted time is over, the day of falvation at an end: had we endeavoured

the working out our falvation formerly, there was hope in our cafe; but now God will work no more, encourage no farther. How bold and daring muft it be, to fet bounds to the grace of God, where he himself sets none? how much prefumption is carried in this kind of despair, for a creature to take upon him to limit the almighty, and fay, fo far he can, or will go, and no farther? How much more reafonable is it from the command speaking his defire of finner falvation, to set about what he enjoins in order to it, and whilst our duty is fo plain, never to throw up our hope of his gracious help?

4. How inexcufable will they be who finally perish under the gofpel, by which falvation is revealed, and the best helps vouchfafed in order to it; God, who enjoins us to work out our falvation, being ready to work in us to will and to do? With what confufion will every fuch foul be filled, confidering, what falvation includes; in how clear a light it was fet, and who commanded them to work out their falvation; confidering, how often the command was repeated, and how ftrongly urged, Behold, now is the acceptable time, now is the day of falvation, to day if ye will hear bis voice, barden not your hearts, (Heb. iii. 15.) and confidering, that under all these the fpirit was ftriving with them. The remembrance of this will leave the loft finner no plea to make, who is found felf-deftroyed, although God was fo ready to help.

Here therefore, before it be too late, let me apply myself to fuch as have hitherto made it none of their concern, to work out their falvation. It is fad there fhould be any such, and the

more

more fo, as it is too plain and common to be denied. Such a temper how light foever made of, is matter at once of wonder and lamentation: For,

(1.) Men cannot without doing violence to themselves, be unconcerned whether they are faved or not. We cannot but be convinced that we carry about with us immortal fouls, that are made for eternity, and paffing to it; fouls that muft live forever, but not here. This is what. we profess to believe. Now, what violence must they offer to themselves, who can't but be conscious of their being on their way to an everlasting state, and yet are unconcerned what will become of them there?

(2.) What can more debase the human nature,

than to live without concern as to our eternal falvation? To be paffing by death to judgment, and to have no folicitude, to what ftate the removing foul muft fo foon be determined?

(3.) What guilt does this involve in it, to be unconcerned about our falvation under the exprefs command to work it out! As the divine law is thus violated, the lawgiver can't but be greatly provoked and his wrath from heaven be ready to be revealed.

Let me therefore intreat finners, whofe confciences tell them this is their cafe, presently to awake and fet about the one thing neceffary, the working out of their falvation. Let the time paft of life fuffice you, wherein you have forgotten God and your fouls; ferved the world, the flesh and the devil; increased your guilt and corruption, and fitted yourselves for deftruction. O finner, it is high time to change thy work and way, and use as much diligence to fave thy foul, and make sure of hea