Willie Martin
Guest
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 Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2003 5:17 pm Post subject: And Angry God - 8 (Last One) |
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Oh that you would consider it, whether you be young or
old! There is reason to think, that there are many in this
congregation now hearing this discourse, that will actually
be the subjects of this very misery to all eternity. We know
not who they are, or in what seats they sit, or what
thoughts they now have. It may be they are now at ease, and
hear all these things without much disturbance, and are now
flattering themselves that they are not the persons,
promising themselves that they shall escape.
If we knew that there was one person, and but one, in the
whole congregation, that was to be the subject of this
misery, what an awful thing would it be to think of! If we
knew who it was, what an awful sight would it be to see such
a person! How might all the rest of the congregation lift up
a lamentable and bitter cry over him!
But, alas! instead of one, how many is it likely will
remember this discourse in hell? And it would be a wonder,
if some that are now present should not be in hell in a very
short time, even before this year is out. And it would be no
wonder if some persons, that now sit here, in some seats of
this meeting-house, in health, quiet and secure, should be
there before to-morrow morning. Those of you that finally
continue in a natural condition, that shall keep out of hell
longest will be there in a little time! your damnation does
not slumber; it will come swiftly, and, in all probability,
very suddenly upon many of you. You have reason to wonder
that you are not already in hell.
It is doubtless the case of some whom you have seen and
known, that never deserved hell more than you, and that
heretofore appeared as likely to have been now alive as you.
Their case is past all hope; they are crying in extreme
misery and perfect despair; but here you are in the land of
the living and in the house of God, and have an opportunity
to obtain salvation. What would not those poor damned
hopeless souls give for one day's opportunity such as you
now enjoy!
And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day
wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and
stands in calling and crying with a loud voice to poor
sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and
pressing into the kingdom of God.
Many are daily coming from the east, west, north and south;
many that were very lately in the same miserable condition
that you are in, are now in a happy state, with their hearts
filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them
from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of
the glory of God. How awful is it to be left behind at such
a day! To see so many others feasting, while you are pining
and perishing!
To see so many rejoicing and singing for joy of heart,
while you have cause to mourn for sorrow of heart, and howl
for vexation of spirit! How can you rest one moment in such
a condition? Are not your souls as precious as the souls of
the people at Suffield,* where they are flocking from day to
day to Christ?
Are there not many here who have lived long in the world,
and are not to this day born again? and so are aliens from
the commonwealth of Israel, and have done nothing ever since
they have lived, but treasure up wrath against the day of
wrath?
Oh, sirs, your case, in an especial manner, is extremely
dangerous. Your guilt and hardness of heart is extremely
great. Do you not see how generally persons of your years
are passed over and left, in the present remarkable and
wonderful dispensation of God's mercy? You had need to
consider yourselves, and awake thoroughly out of sleep.
You cannot bear the fierceness and wrath of the infinite
God.-And you, young men, and young women, will you neglect
this precious season which you now enjoy, when so many
others of your age are renouncing all youthful vanities, and
flocking to Christ? You especially have now an
extraordinary opportunity; but if you neglect it, it will
soon be with you as with those persons who spent all the
precious days of youth in sin, and are now come to such a
dreadful pass in blindness and hardness.
And you, children, who are unconverted, do not you know
that you are going down to hell, to bear the dreadful wrath
of that God, who is now angry with you every day and every
night? Will you be content to be the children of the devil,
when so many other children in the land are converted, and
are become the holy and happy children of the King of kings?
And let every one that is yet out of Christ, and hanging
over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or
middle aged, or young people, or little children, now harken
to the loud calls of God's word and providence. This
acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favors to
some, will doubtless be a day of as remarkable vengeance to
others. Men's hearts harden, and their guilt increases apace
at such a day as this, if they neglect their souls; and
never was there so great danger of such persons being given
up to hardness of heart and blindness of mind.
God seems now to be hastily gathering in his elect in all
parts of the land; and probably the greater part of adult
persons that ever shall be saved, will be brought in now in
a little time, and that it will be as it was on the great
out-pouring of the Spirit upon the Jews in the apostles'
days; the election will obtain, and the rest will be
blinded. If this should be the case with you, you will
eternally curse this day, and will curse the day that ever
you was born, to see such a season of the pouring out of
God's Spirit, and will wish that you had died and gone to
hell before you had seen it.
Now undoubtedly it is, as it was in the days of John the
Baptist, the axe is in an extraordinary manner laid at the
root of the trees, that every tree which brings not forth
good fruit, may be hewn down and cast into the fire.
Therefore, let every one that is out of Christ, now awake
and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is
now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this
congregation: Let every one fly out of Sodom:
"Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you,
escape to the
mountain, lest you be consumed."
A town in the neighbourhood.
(Taken, in part, from a sermon by Johnathan Edwards,
entitled "Sinners in The Hands of an Angry God). |
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