An Essay to Do Good by a Dissuasive from Tavern Haunting and Excessive Drinking
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An Essay to do GOOD. By a dissuasive from Tavern-haunting, and Excessive Drinking.
By Benjamin Wadsworth, Pastor of a Church of Christ in Boston; together with a Lecture SERMON, by the same Author.
TIS said of our glorious Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, that he went about doing good. Act 10.38. All his Disciples, should walk as he also walked, 1 Joh. 2.6. They should imitate him in doing good, as much as possibly they can; to be sure Ministers of the Gospel should do so. And it must needs be reckoned a good work, not only to mortify our own lusts and corruptions (which we should chiefly and constantly endeavor to do) but also to prevent and suppress Sin in others, as much as possibly we can. It is Brotherly, Neighbourly kindness, to reprove others for and caution them against Sin, Lev. 19 17. We should especially witness against, and endeavor to put a stop to, growing threatening Evils; and among Sundry such evils in our Land; I reckon Excessive Drinking to be one. I therefore thought it proper and seasonable, to bear some Testimony against this growing wickedness; by offering some few considerations, to those who needlessly frequent Taverns; and also to Tavern-keepers, or to those who Retail Drink, whether they are Innholders or not Yet lest I should be mis-interpreted, or be thought to run into extremes; I will readily grant,
1. That the keeping of Taverns, or Houses of Entertainment, is not only lawful, but also very useful and convenient. The proper end and use of Taverns, Inns Ale-houses, Victualing-houses, or Houses of Entertainment, in general, is, the accommodating of Strangers and Travelers. If Persons had no occasion to be far from home, there would be no occasion ordinarily for Taverns. But the necessary business of many (yea of most at one time or other) calls them to be abroad, Journeying or Trading far from home. Now when Persons are thus distant from home, Houses of Entertainment are needful, to accommodate them with Victuals, Drink, Lodgings, &c. I grant,
2. That Town-dwellers who are nigh home, may sometimes, have proper occasions to go into Taverns, and stay a while there. No doubt but such Town-dwellers (especially those who have most business with Strangers and Travelers ) may sometimes have real business at Taverns, and so have proper occasion to go thither for the doing of it. And no doubt but when their business calls them there, they may allowably buy and use, what drink is proper and needful for their Refreshment.
I grant,
3 That the use of Strong Drink, yea of Strong Spirits, is not only Lawful, but in some cases convenient. I verily believe, that various sorts of Strong Drink are greatly abused in this Land, and Rum especially. But though' many abuse these things, it does not thence follow that 'tis unlawful to use them. I grant that even Distill'd Spirits may do good, when taken only in a moderate quantity, and only at such times or seasons, when there is proper occasion for them. But though' I readily grant these three things but now mentioned, yet I verily believe, that multitudes of Persons in this Land, are very criminal and blame-worthy; for their needless haunting of Drinking-houses, and spending their Time and Money there. Now out of hearty regard to the glory of God, the good of the Public, and the benefit of such faulty Persons; I would Intreat, Exhort and Urge, those who are thus blame-worthy, to reform such their ill practices. Donit frequent Taverns (or any Drinking houses, be they called by what name they will) donit spend your time, nor Money there, unless there be some real occasion, some real business that calls you so to do. The Exhortation is,
To move you to a compliance with this Exhortation▪ consider, by thus doing,
1. You Sinfully Spend your TIME, which you must give an account to God for. 'It is in God you live, move and have your being; he holds your Souls in Life, and preserves your Spirits; every breath you draw, is a renewed Instance of Divine Mercy. God who thus lengthens out your Time, requires that the whole of it should be so Imploy'd, as to bring glory to his Name. God said of Israel, Deut. 4.10. I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to FEAR ME ALL THE DAYS THAT THEY SHALL LIVE UPON THE EARTH. You should Fear, Serve and Glorify God, all the time of your Life upon Earth And God will call you to an account, How you spend your Time, and for what you do upon Earth. 2 Cor. 5.10. For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Well, and what account can you give to God, of the Time needlessly (and therefore Sinfully ) spent in Taverns? Oh how doleful will your account be, if speedy hearty Repentance does not prevent? If that Time you needlessly spent in Taverns, had been spent in Reading God's Word, in holy Meditâtion, in earnest Prayer to God for Spiritual Blessings; how much would it have been, for the good of your precious Immortal Souls, and for your Joyful account in the day of Judgment? Such needless spending of Time and Money,
2. Wrongs your Outward Estates. All Christians, should be diligent in some lawful business. Idleness itself is a great Sin, and leads to many Sins. You should be, Not slothful in business, Rom. 12.11. The Slothful, is called the Wicked, Servant; in our Lord's Parable, Mat 25 26. The Inspired Apostle says, 1 Thes 4 11, 12 — Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands as we commanded you — that ye may have lack of nothing. Eph. 4 • 8. — Let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. These plain commands of God you break, by needless frequenting of Taverns. You not only neglect diligent proper means, honestly to Increase your Outward Estate (which might render you more Serviceable and Useful) but you also diminish and lessen what you have. And if you Estates can bear such expenses at present; yet the course you follow, tends to Poverty: Prov. 23.21. The Drunkard and the Glutton shall come to Poverty; and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. It is easy to give many Instances, of Persons who had competent Estates, good Business, good Reputation, and in likely way to thrive honestly in the World; who by frequenting of Taverns, have been brought to Poverty. And if your ill course in frequenting Taverns, brings you into low, strait, impoverish'd circumstances; then these (among other) mischiefs are like to follow.
1. You will be unable to pay your just Debts to those you deal with. God's command is, Rom. 13 8. Owe no man anything, but to love one another. The Prophet said to the Widow, 2 King 4 7. Pay thy Debt, Psal. 37.21. The wicked borroweth and payeth not again. Men are wicked, if they dont do their utmost to Pay their just Debts; but your ill course renders you unable to pay such Debts, therefore your wicked course puts you on further wickedness. You employ that to Serve the Devil, and gratify your lusts; which should go to satisfy your Creditors. This is mischievous wickedness.
2. You cannot do what you should, to Support the State and Government. Rom. 13.7 Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, &c. Those who Serve the Public, should be paid by the Public; Rates and Taxes are necessary to be paid, for the Public Service, and to Support the State. But your Poverty procured by your wickedness, renders you unable to do your part in this Duty.
3 You cannot do what you should, to Maintain God's Public Worship. The divine command is, Gal. 6.6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate to him that teacheth in all good things. Prov. 3.9. Honor the Lord with thy Substance. It is the undeniable Duty of Christians, to pay out of their Estates what's needful, for the honorable Support of God's Worship and Ministry. But your Sinful spending what you have, renders you unable to do this Duty. By wickedly spending what you have, you Serve the Devil instead of Honouring the Lord, with your Substance. The Poverty which your Sin procures, not only makes you defraud Men but also rob God; you are guilty of Sacrilege, Mal. 3.8— 10. Possibly I may be Scoff'd and Mock'd at for this, by the Intemperate and Profane; but if I am, I will endeavor to bear it.
4. You cannot Support and Maintain your own Families. Many Families are greatly impoverish'd, brought into necessitous pinching circumstances; because the heads of them haunt Taverns, live Idly, spend their Time and Money in Drinking, Gaming and other vicious practices. What shall I say to you that are thus guilty? I say! Nay hear what God says, 1 Tim. 5.8. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house; he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an Infidel. It may be you would be vexed with me, if I should call you Heathens and Infidels; but God says, you are worse than such For many Heathen carefully provide for their Families, but you wickedly neglect yours. IF God's Word may be regarded (and surely it should) you donit deserve to be called Christians, but to be called worse than Infidels. Nay, the Sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones, Lam 4.3. Birds and Beasts will feed their Young Ones; therefore you act much worse than they, if you suffer your Wives and Families, your poor Children, to want what's needful, while you wickedly spend your Time and Money at Drinking-Houses.
5. You become burdensome to your honest Neighbors. When by your wicked Impoverishing courses, you come to be very low, have nothing before hand, and it may be much in debt too; if God should now send Sickness on you and your Families, why you must perish if your charitable Neighbors did not help you. Those that were Sweating while you were Drinking; diligently Working while you were Idling, and Playing; those who were Frugal, Diligent and Prudent, while you acted like Prodigals; must now Support you and yours, else you would perish. And what a shame is it, that you should be thus burdensome? These few hints show, that the course you take, tends to destroy your Outward Estates, and so it brings many mischiefs.
Again, the course you take,
3. Hurts your Reputation. It's probable that your own Idle companions that are as bad as yourselves, would not dislike you for your ill courses; but all Persons of true worth and virtue, will disesteem you and think meanly of you, for them. It is part of a good man's character, Psal. 15.4. In whose eyes a vile Person is contemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. Now I am sure 'tis Vile and Sinful, for Persons needlessly to spend their Time and Money at Taverns. And if such a course brings them (as it has done many) to be gross common Drunkards; then they must needs be Contemptable, even in the eyes of Sober Heathens, as well as of good Christians. To see a Person thro' excess of Drink, 〈◊〉 , Staggering, Yawning, Slavering, Wallowing in his Vomit; or so Stupify'd that he cannot move anymore than a log; what a contemptable loathsome object is it? They that have any virtue, will surely contemn those that are thus vicious. A Drunken Sot, deserves to be contemned. Solomon tells us, Prov. 3.35. Shame shall be the promotion of Fools. The ill course you follow,
4. Is hurtful to your BODIES. God says, Exod. 21.13. Thou shalt not Kill. When the Jailor would have killed himself. Paul cried out, Act. 16.28. Do thyself no harm. You should give heed to these things. Self-Murder, is an heinous and crying Iniquity; I believe many Tavern-haunters are guilty of it. No doubt but many kill themselves as Surely, though' not so Suddenly, by Intemperance, as if they should run themselves thro' with a Sword. Prov. 23.32. At the last it biteth like a Serpent, and stingeth like an Adder. Excess, Poysons them; it brings many Distempers, and at last kills them. I think 'tis easy to observe, that many who haunt Taverns, and habituate themselves to intemperate Drinking; do gradually lose their Stomachs, their Appetite is gone, they can eat little or nothing; they are Bloated, Weak, they become in a great measure benumbed, doz'd, listless, and so not fit for any business of Body or Mind, and so languish till they drop into the Grave. According to the different Age, Constitution and Employment of Tiplers, some thus destroy and murder themselves in a shorter, and some in a longer time. I suppose twould be easy to give instances of Persons (and to Name them if it would not look Invidious) that by excessive drinking of Rum, have been brought into Languishing Circumstances; yet they have so craved Rum, that they could not be without it. It may be every quarter of an hour (or very frequently) they must have it, they are fainting and gasping without it, and yet the taking it kills them. I have heard sundry Skilful Physicians say, that the Customary or frequent use of Rum, Brandy, or indeed any distilled Spirits, hinders the digestion of Food, spoils the Appetite, begets a vicious craving, after Spirits; and yet to gratify this craving, is very hurtful to the body, destroy natural Heat, and tends directly to destroy Life Oh, how many have thus Murder'd themselves! Those who destroy their Estates, or Reputation, or Lives, by Intemperance, are so far the Devils Martyrs. They suffer these things in his Service, and for his cause. Satan's service is costly to them in this World, besides what's coming in the Other. But besides this gradual way of killing by Intemperance, Drunkards woefully expose themselves to many fearful Accidents. That saying, That Drunkards get no harm, is the Devils Proverb, 'tis false, 'tis a lie. Inspired Solomon in his Proverbs says, Prov. 23.29, 30, 34. Who hath We? who hath Sorrow? who hath Contentions? who hath Babling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of Eyes? They that tarry long at the Wine, they that go to seek mixed Wine— Yea thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the Sea, or as he that lieth on the top of a Mast. How many Instances might be given, of those who when Drunken have met with Falls, Wounds, Bruises, broken Bones? Have not some slept abroad in their Drunken fits, got Cold, Sicken'd and died upon it? How many have been found Dead abroad, when a dark Night, cold Season, or sore Storm has met with them in their Drunken fits? Many have died in Drink, and where do you think their Souls are? But again, by the course you take,
5. You are in danger of being led into OTHER SINS. One Sin often leads to others, and smaller offenses make way for greater. It may be though' you needlessly frequent Drinking-houses, yet at present you are reckoned Sober Persons; you are no Swearers, you are no Drunkards so as to Reel, Stagger, Spew as the common Sots do; well if it be so, yet you are in an ill course, and there's apparent danger of your growing much worse. If you are not Profane Swearers, yet possibly at Taverns, you may meet with some Sons of Belial, some children of the Devil Cursing, Swearing, Damning, as if they were dating God to destroy them. And by your needlessly coming into such Company, and hearing such hellish abominable words; who knows how far you may be left to Imitate them? And if you are not Staggering Drunken Sots already, 'tis to be feared the course you take, will bring you to it. It may be when you have been Sitting and Drinking a while, and are about to go home; then there comes in some other Neighbor, and so you will stay some-what longer, to have a Pot, or Pint, or Jill with him, and thus you gradually proceed from bad to worse. And possibly in a little time, you will come to be really buz'd, really overcome with Drink, really Drunk. And what a figure will you make then? what are you good for, or fit for, in your drunken fit? why, for no good to be sure. You are not fit for any Service for God or Man; you're only fit to Serve the Devil. If Children are Gluttons and Drunkards, no wonder if they are Stubborn and Rebellious, Deut. 21.20. Drunkenness has various effects on men; some in their Drunkenness, act like Fawning, Flattering, Slavering Fools, they seem mighty Loving and Good humor'd. Others in their Drunken fits, are much for Discoursing and disputing about Religious things, and it may be will Weep and seem much affected with them. I believe the Devil prompts them very much to this, that if possible, he may render Religion Ridiculous and Odious, and Prejudice others against it. Some in their Drunken fits, are like raving mad Dogs, are ready to quarrel and fight with any they meet with. To such an one we might well apply, Prov. 17.12. Let a Bear robbed of her Whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. When men are drunk, how often do they Quarrel, Fight, Wound, Bruise, Maim one another; and hurt Sober Persons that come in their way? Nay, sometimes they'll cruelly beat their own Wives, Children, or best Friends. Yea very many Murders have been committed, by Persons in their Drunken fits. A few Months ago, Two men were Executed at Bristol, for being guilty of Murder in their Drunkenness. One in the County of Middle-sex, was last Summer tried for his Life, for Killing a Man, (even a Kinsman too) when both they and others had been Intemperately Drinking together. 'Twould be easy to give many instances, of Murders committed by men in Drink. Alas, when men are deprived of Reason by Excess of Drink, what wickedness are they afraid or ashamed of? They'll sometimes Curse, Swear, be Unclean, Fight, &c. There's scarce any wickedness that they'll scruple, or boggle at. Nabal in his Drunken fit, did Rail at David and his Messengers, 1 Sam. 25.10, 11, 14, 37. David says, Psal. 69 12. I was the song of the Drunkard. Drunken Sots, wont scruple to rail at and revile, the best Persons, and the best Things. Lot was a good Man, yet his Daughters wickedly and purposely made him Drunk; and when he was Drunk, he did commit Incest with both of them, Gen. 19.32—38 Oh dreadful, Oh horrible wickedness committed thro' Drunkenness! Be astonished O Heavens, at such things as these. I was lately told some Expressions, which a Church-Member, Spake in a Drunken sot; the expressions were (to say the least) very Profane; yea I think they might be truly called Blasphemous; when he became Sober (I was told) he was Reprov'd and Confess'd his fault. I mention this, for the cautioning and warning of Church-Members, as well as others. It is very criminal and wicked, to revile Church-Members in general (as too many are apt to do) for the gross faults committed by some. Yet as to particular Persons, if they indulge themselves in Drunkenness and so fall into other Scandals; therein they act more like Heathen or Brutes, than as becomes the Members of our Holy Lord Jesus. Surely any one that thinks, and will take the pains to consider, will readily grant, that Drunkenness leads to other Sins. I shall therefore add no more on this head, but only Subjoyn part of the Confession made by a man, who was executed above twenty years ago in this place, for a Murder he committed when he was in drink: The Confession was Printed, with a Sermon Preach'd by the Reverend Mr. Increase Mather on that occasion. The Confession runs thus,
To proceed, the course you take,
6. Will very much hurt your Families. I donit here refer to your Impoverishing of them, (I spake to that before) but to the want of good Order, Instruction, Discipline, Religious Worship among them. Some who haunt Taverns, do stay out very late at Night; this disorders the Family. It may be when you come from the Tavern very late, the most part of your Family are gone to bed; or if not, yet they are so Sleepy and Drouzy, they can scarce keep Awake to attend Family Prayer. But in truth, I doubt, that those who needlessly haunt Taverns, have little (if any) regard, to Instruct their Families in Religion, to Read God's Word to them, and to Pray in their Families Morning and Evening. But very great is your wickedness, if you neglect these plain necessary duties. Yet how unfit are you for these duties, when you have been with Idle Companions, chatting where you had no call nor business, and Drinking (to say the least) more than you had need of? Nay it may be, if you stay out late, when you come home, Instead of Praying with your Families, there's Vexing, Fretting, Scolding, if not Fighting too; occasioned by your base irregular practices. I pity those poor Wives, Children, Servants; who dwell in such woeful Families. What's like to become of those poor Young Ones, who have such Vile Examples set before them, and are brought up in such disorderly Families? Such vile disorders, tend to breed up a Generation fit for no good. If the head of the Family is abroad very unseasonably, very late, if he's Intemperate, if he will call ill Names, speak vile Words, Curse and Swear Profanely; is he likely (do you think) rightly to Reprove or Reform what's amiss, in his Children or Servants? Nay if persons donit frequent Taverns, but do in Private Houses stay out unseasonably; spending all or most part of the Night, in Gaming, Tipling and other wicked practices, tis much the same thing, as to the Hurting and Disordering their Families.
Again Consider,
7. The course you take, may prove, very Injurious to your Neighbors round about you. Ill examples, are very Influential and pernicious. A little Leaven, leaveneth the whole Lump, 1 Cor. 5.6. Lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you, and thereby MANY BE DEFILED, Heb. 12.15. One ill example, may defile and hurt many. Solomon says, Eccles. 9 18. One Sinner destroyeth much good. Drunkenness is a great Sin, it pulls down Divine Judgments; God threatens Woes to those that are guilty of it. Isai. 5.11. Woe unto them that rise up early in the Morning, that they may follow Strong Drink, that continue until Night, till wine Inflame them. Isai 28.1. Woe to the crown of Pride, to the Drunkards of Ephraim. Well, when you needlessly haunt Taverns and become Intemperate, by this your Vile Example you Practically say, That others may do so too. And if they should follow your wicked Example, what would become of us? Why we should soon be a Land of Tiplers, Sots, Drunkards, Extremely wicked and utterly miserable. The Lord be Merciful to us, shall this be the Doom of Poor New-England? God forbid. Well then, Donit Set ill Examples before others. If you are not gross Drunkards already, yet your needless haunting of Taverns, may be unspeakably pernicious to others. I have heard of sundry Younger Persons, who being blamed for being needlessly and unseasonably at Taverns; did allege for their Vindication, the Example of such and such Persons of some note and figure, either for their Age, Office, Church-Membership, Sobriety, &c. How sorrowful is it, that the Example of any such should hurt others▪ I therefore earnestly Intreat and Beseech those (high or low, rich or poor) who make any considerable Figure, or are of any Tolerable Note on Character, for Age, Office, Church Membership, Sobriety, &c. that they would as much as with any Conveniency they may, avoid Tavern-haunting; lest Younger, Looser, Inconsiderate Persons, should by their Example be led into the Snares of the Destroyer. To those who needlessly frequent Taverns, I would say Once more,
8. The course you take, tends to the Eternal Ruin of your Precious Immortal Souls. If you are not gross Drunkards already, yet the course you take leads to it. Therefore hearken, to our Holy Compassionate Redeemer's Words, Luk. 21.34. Take heed to yourselves, lest AT ANY TIME your hearts be over-charged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness. Verily you should take heed. 1 Thes. 5.6. — Watch and be Sober. Eph. 5.18. Be not Drunk with Wine, wherein is excess▪ but be filled with the Spirit. Excess of Wine or other Strong Drink, provokes the Holy Spirit of God. And if that Holy Spirit, should no more Strive with and help you, you are undone forever. Consider, Drunkards are numbered among those, who shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6.10. If you would not take warning and turn from Sin while you may; you will pay dear for it afterwards. As for one that hears God's curse, yet blesseth himself, Saying he shall have Peace, and walks in the Imagination of his heart, to add Drunkenness to Thirst; what's like to become of him? Why, Moses tells us, The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord, and his Jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall 〈◊〉 out his Name from under Heaven, Deut. 29.19, 20. Oh tremble, at these dreadful threatenings of the great God; break off your ill courses before 'tis to late. If Drink (or any other Sin.) brings you to Hell you cannot there have One drop of Water to feel your Scartched Tongues. Oh Repent and Reform speedily. Drunkards, are not absolutely beyond the reach of Divine Mercy. Some have Repented and been Saved. 1 Cor. 6.10, 11. But alas, how few Instances have we, of Drunkards 〈…〉 'It is no easy thing for them to do good, who are 〈◊〉 to do Evil, Jer. 13.23. The 〈…〉 and Intreated, no longer to 〈…〉 in any ill 〈◊〉 whatsoever. 〈…〉 coming, JUDGMENT is coming; Oh think, ETERNITY, ETERNITY, ETERNITY will be upon you very Quickly. Oh prepare for Eternity, by forsaking all Sin, by heartily accepting of Jesus Christ, and Sincerely Walking in his Ways. If you would be Saved, you must live as the Gospel directs; and that is Soberly, Righteously, Godlily, Tit. 2.12.
I would now proceed.
II. To offer some Advice, to all that Keep Houses of Entertainment, and that Retail Drink. And my Advice and Exhortation is, That you do by no means Encourage or Indulge Intemperance, in any person whatsoever. It may be you are desirous to Sell Drink, for your own Gain; but you should not do this to your Neighbors hurt. You should Love your Neighbors as yourselves, do as you could (reasonably) desire to be done by; you should desire your Neighbors Profit and Welfare as well as your own, Phil. 2.4. These are plain commanded Duties, therefore you should make Conscience of doing them. And for this reason, you should never Encourage any of your Neighbors or Customers, needlessly to spend their time and money with you. Nay you should not Indulge them in so doing. If you Encourage or Indulge their sin, thereby you become partakers in their guilt. According to God's Law, he that can prevent mischief and does not, is to be Punish'd as if he himself did it, Exod. 21.19. God threatens those particularly, who further Drunkenness in others, Hab. 2.15. Woe unto him that giveth his Neighbor drink; that puttest thy Bottle to him & makest him Drunken also. Remember this the great God denounceth Woe against those who make their Neighbors Drunk. And will you for the gaining of a little Money, expose yourselves to this Woe? What, do you provoke the Lord to Jealousy? Are you stronger than he? 1 Cor. 10.22. When you encourage or indulge your Neighbors, in the misspense of time and money with you; as you provoke God and incur his displeasure, so you greatly wrong your Neighbors too. If you should Steal a Great or Sixpence from him, this would be a plain breach of the Eighth Commandment; yet this Theft would not so much hurt your Neighbor, as your Selling him so many Penny-worth of Drink if you be (as doubtless you often are) morally sure, that he will be Drunk with it. For when your Neighbor thus gets Drunk, he not only has spent his Money, but he hurts his Body and Soul too, with what his money paid for. By reading what I have already said to Tavern haunters, you may see how sinful and dangerous their course is; therefore if you encourage or connive at such practices in them; you are in a great degree, chargeable with the sin and mischief attending them. When you encourage their misspense of time and money, you then further them, in hurting their Estates, their Credit, their Families, and their Bodies and Souls too; yea in hurting the Public and that various ways. If when you owe your Neighbors a small matter, you urge them to take it out in your way; that is, to drink it out though' they have no need of it; this is very wicked in you. They had better lose their Debt, than get it in such a manner. If when Constables come to clear your Houses, as the Law directs; you hide your wicked Customers, deny that they are there, and so encourage their staying to Tipple, Game, &c. then you do very wickedly; your sin is greatly Aggravated. You do wickedly, to indulge any sorts of persons, whether Heads of Families, Sons or Servants, needlessly to spend their time and money in your Houses. But it seems something of an Aggravation of your sin, when you suffer your Poor Neighbors, Tradesmen, Labourours, to do so; when you know their Poor Families want Necessaries. It may be they have scarce Victuals to feed them; scarce Fire or Clothes to warm them. Those men who spend their money at Taverns, while their Wives, Children or Servants thus suffer; are worse than brutish; and you act Inhumanely, Barbarously, Cruelly (not to say Murderously ) in indulging them in such Cursed practices. Indeed you are bound in Duty and Conscience, to oppose and hinder as far as you can, any persons misspending his time or money in your Houses. If any would be so disorderly in your Houses, you should kindly and friendly advise them to desist, and be gone; tell them how hurtful their practice is. If such gentle means would not prevail, yet you may refuse to let them have drink; you may take methods, to hinder their wickedness if you will. Possibly you will Object, this is the way to lose your Custom, you cannot Live after this rate. To this, the answer is short and plain, You had better lose your Custom, thou mischief your own Souls, and the Souls and Bodies of your Neighbors; which you do, if you indulge their wickedness. The Gain you get by indulging Sin, is Unrighteous Gain; and that exposeth to the Wrath and Vengeance of God, whatever you may think of it at present. Remember therefore the account you must give to God, in the Judgment Day; and let that restrain you, from encouraging or indulging Intemperance (or any other sin) in any person whatsoever.
From the Premises, I think the following Inferences are plain, viz.
1. That none but Persons of approved Sobriety and good Conversation, should have Licenses to Retail Drink, especially to be Inn holders. If Vicious Immoral persons, who have little or no Conscience, come to be Inn-holders; they will allow of vile Disorders, Swearing, Gaming, Drunkenness▪ they would not care how much they Impoverish & Debauch their Neighbors, if they can but Gain by it themselves. Yea, the Children and Servants in such Houses, are in great danger of being utterly Ruined I reckon such Inn-holders are very Extensive Plagues and Mischiefs to the Public They are more dangerous to the Public, than so many Indians on the Frontiers, or a Privateer on the Coast; for these open Enemies can do no more (at worst) but Kill the Body; but such Inn-holders would not scruple, to destroy the Estates, Credit, Bodies and Immortal Souls of their Neighbors. Sometimes one base Fellow in a Town (though' in a private Capacity) does a world of Mischief, by tempting corrupting and debauching his Neighbors, Young Ones especially; but if such an one Keeps Tavern, he'l probably do more abundant mischief. Therefore those who have power to Grant Licenses, as they have any regard to God's Glory and the good of this Land; should Conscienciously take heed, not to grant them to Unsuitable Persons.
2. The needless multiplying of Licenses to Sell Drink, especially to be Innholders, directly tends to debauch and ruin this People. If a grieved Conscience (concerned for the Public good) might have liberty to Speak; I humbly conceive, that Licenses are so multiplied (especially in some Places) that those who have them can get no tolerable gain by them, unless their Neighbors prove Wicked Customers, in spending more Money with them than they should. When men have Licenses, they are under a Temptation to Sell what Drink they can; though' they know their Neighbors do Wickedly, in buying so much as they do. And the Poorer those are that have Licenses, the greater are their Temptations to allow ill practices in others, for their own gain. It may be a Man has met with Losses, or his Trade Fails, he's become low and indigent; the next thing is, he seeks a License to Sell Drink; and when he has it, possibly many of his Neighbors ruin themselves, by being his Wicked Customers. I fear many are made poor, by being Wicked Customers to others, that were poor before them. If those really poor and low, would Keep good Consciences; I think they had better follow the hardest labor their Bodies can bear, and be content to live very meanly; than to get a License to Sell Drink: for their Temptations would be very great. How many have reason to rue the day, that they got such Licenses? I doubt Licenses are so Multiplied, that few who have them can get a gain answerable to their Charge and Trouble, and Keep good Consciences too.
3. All that desire the Glory of God and the good of this People, should do their utmost in their several Capacities to Suppress Intemperance. Those in Civil Authority, should Imploy their power against this threatening Vice, as well as against others; else they are not a Terror to Evil doers, Rom. 13.3. I reckon there's great need also, that all Ministers thro' the Land, should very Plainly, Publicly and Particularly, bear their Witness against this growing and threatening Evil. Heads of Familes should watch over their Young Ones, not suffer them to haunt Taverns, nor drink to Excess. They should not teach their Children, their Boys and Girls to drink Rum, (as I have heard some very Foolishly & Sinfully do. ) In short, all that are Sober and well-minded, should in love and faithfulness Watch over their Neighbors, Exhorting, Reproving, Admonishing as their is occasion; for the Preventing and Suppressing of this growing wickedness.
4. All that desire the good of this Land, should earnestly Pray for the Out-pourings of the Spirit of Christ. God is various ways contending with us. He has punished us by a long War, which has cost us much Treasure and Blood. The last Summer we met with a disappointment, which was very chargeable and expensive to us; at the same time also, God sorely chasten'd us with a very Severe Drought. God is come out against us in the Way of his Judgments; Surely we should be in Good earnest, to reform what's amiss among us. We should not only Talk of a Reformation, but diligently & heartily Indeavour it. Therefore we should Earnestly Pray, that God would Pour down his Spirit on us; (though' we should use the best means we can, yet) nothing short of that, can work a Real thorough Reformation. If every serious Person in the Land, would heartily and constantly Pray for this great blessing, 'twould be a Token for good, Psal. 85.4 8. Turn us, O God of our Salvation, and cause thine anger towards us to cease — I will hear what God the Lord will Speak: for he will Speak Peace unto his People, and to his Saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Read this Essay, and Lend it to thy Neighbor.
Boston, N. E. January, 25th. 1709, 10.
THE All-seeing Eye of GOD OUR JUDGE Should Restrain us from SIN, and Quicken us to DUTY; urged in a Lecture-SERMON, Preached at Boston, N. E. December 22. 1709.
JER. XVII. 10.
I the Lord search the Heart, I try the Reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
EVERY Creature, is always under the Eye & in the Hand, of God it's Creator; and every Man, must give an account of his carriage to God, who will reward or punish him according to what his behavior has been. That every Man shall be thus dealt with, seems evident from the Text now read. In the 5. & 6. verses, we have a curse denounced against those, who Trust in Man, but their Hearts depart from God. In the 7. & 8. verses, we have a blessing pronounced on those, who Trust and Hope in God. It is then added, v. 9. The heart is decietful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Some suppose these last words, to refer to the 5. v. where a Curse is denounced against those that Trust in Man; as if the Prophet had said, Man is not fit to be Trusted in, for his Heart is very decietful; he may pretend much kindness, when he intends mischief. Others look on the words of v. 9. as some reply to Self flattering Hypocrites, who pretended, that their hearts were right with God and did not depart from him; as if the Prophet had said to such, Take heed that you be not mistaken, for the Heart is decietful, &c. If this latter be the true meaning, 'tis something like the Apostles caution to every man, Not to think more highly of himself than he ought, Rom. 12.3. And that, if he thinks himself something when he is nothing, he deceives himself, Gal 6.3. But whether the 9 v. refer to the one or other of the fore-mentioned particulars, yet in the end of it 'tis said of Mans heart, who can know it? Now the words of our Text, give a complete full answer to the Question, God knows the Hearts of all. Tho' no man knows the hearts of others, nor fully knows his own; though' he knows not the depth of that decietfulness which is in him; knows not how far he may fall, if he should meet with opportunities and pressing temptations; yet God most fully and completely knows, all that is in the hearts of men. He not only hears all their words, and sees all their outward actions, but is also as fully acquainted with their hearts. The Heart and the Reins, seem here to signify one and the same thing; even the Rational Soul; with as it's Motions and Actions. When men desire to be fully satisfied about a matter, they commonly Inquire, Try, make Search, that so they may come to the bottom of the business. Job speaking of himself as Judge, says: Job 29 16. The cause which I know not, I searched out. In allusion to such Inquiries among men, God is here said to Search the heart, and Try the reins. So he is said, to Weigh the Spirits, Prov. 16.2. To Weigh Actions, 1 Sam. • 3. To Search Jerusalem with Candles, Zeph. 1.12. Men sometimes light a Candle, look into dark holes and corners, to make discovery of what they knew not before. Now these things are spoken of God, after the manner of men; they donit signify as though' God Took pains, and did really Strive and Labor to know what is in men; but they note, the most full complete knowledge which God has of all men, and of their hearts. God takes the most exact notice that can be, of what's in the heart of every Man, Woman and Child in the World. And what does God do this for? Why 'tis not as an Idle unconcerned Spectator, that he critically observes all that's in the hearts of Men, but he does it as a Witness and Judge; That he may give to everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doing. To give to every Man, it seems then, that every Man must have to do with God as his Judge. Very often in this World, God deals with Persons in some measure according to their ways. He sometimes brings on the Wicked very sore Judgments, which on some special accounts, are remarkably the fruit of their doings; and sometimes the Godly meet with blessings, which seem to have a remarkable Relation to their good deeds. I say 'tis sometimes thus, yet the Godly and the wicked cannot fully, much less constantly be distinguished from one another, by external dispensations of Providence to them, here in this World. All things come alike to all, Eccles 9 2. But in the World to come, in the Day of Judgment, then each particular Person shall receive from God, according to what his heart and ways have been. From our Text therefore we may raise this,
DOCTRINE. GOD exactly Knows the Heart of every Person, and will give him according to his Ways.
Here are two Propositions. (1) God exactly knows the heart of every Person. (2) He will give to him according to his Ways.
PROP. I. GOD exactly Knows the Heart of every Person.
This is evident,
1. Because God's Power upholds and concurs with, every Creature in all its natural Operations. The same God who Made all Creatures does Preserve them, Neh. 9 6. The same Almighty power, which was necessary to give them being, is necessary to preserve them in being. We live, move, and have our being in God; he holds our Souls in Life and preserves our Spirits; he upholds all things by the word of his power. The Divine Power, causeth the Wind to blow, the Sea to flow and ebb, the celestial Bodies to keep their Stated regular motions. It is the Divine Power, that upholds or preserves the Natural Powers, which are in all living Creatures; and so in men as well as in others. It is the Divine Power that upholds in men, the animal faculties of Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, &c. and that does concur with these faculties in such Sensations. So the Divine Power preserves the Rational Soul, all its natural powers and abilities, and concurs with the faculties in all their natural operations. If God should with-draw his sustaining power, the Creature would presently sink into its original nothing. Or if God should preserve the Creature in being, yet it could not act, exert or exercise its usual natural powers, if the Divine Agency or Concourse were withheld. All the actions of the Soul may be called Natural, as performed by the Rational natural faculties (whether Supernaturally or Graciously assisted or not) though' at the same time they may be called Moral too, as they refer to the Rule or Law of Actions. Now considered as Natural Actions, a Divine Concourse is absolutely necessary▪ in order to the performance of them. Divine power actually upholds and assists the faculties of the Soul, in all their operations. And since there is such a Divine Concourse, in all human actions outward or inward, it necessarily follows, that God knows all the motions and actions even of the Souls of men. For the Soul can do no action without 〈◊〉 Divine Concourse, inasmuch therefore as God, power is concerned in such an action, he must needs know all about it. That God knows the hearts of men, is evident,
2. Because he has given Laws, to regulate and govern even the hearts of men. The Divine law requires us, to Love the Lord our God with all our Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength; and our Neighbor as ourselves, Mat. 22 37—39. It forbids us to Hate our Neighbor, Lev. 19 17. It bids us Trust in God, Rejoice in him, it bids us be Patient; and indeed multitudes of Divine Precepts, have an Immediate direct reference, to the Inward Motions of the Soul which other Men cannot see. Nay indeed all the Commands of God reach to the Soul, to the heart; for we should obey and serve God with all our heart. Now since God gives laws, to regulate even the inward secret actions of the heart, the Soul, it plainly follows, that he knows those inward secret actions; for if he knew them not, his laws would signify nothing, he could not tell when they were kept or broken, and so could not punish or reward Men according to their ways. That God knows the hearts of Men, appears,
3. From plain direct Assertions in Scripture. God is a boundless Infinite Being, He's everywhere Present, and necessarily knows all things. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the Evil and the good, Prov 15 3 There is no Creature that is not manifest in his sight, all things are open and naked, to the eyes of him with whom we have to do, Heb 4.13. Man is a short sighted Creature, many things are hid from his eye; but nothing is hid from God's eye He knows all the outward bodily actions of men, though' done never so secretly. For the Darkness hideth not from him, but the 〈…〉 shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to him, Psal. 139.12. Indeed his eyes are open, on all the ways of the Sons of Men, Jer. 32.19 Men commonly know those things, that are done before their Face, under their eye, they looking on; Well, God's eyes are always open, and that on all the ways of the Sons of men. So God knows all the Words men speak, though' never so secretly Whisper'd: Psal. 139 4 There is not a Word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord thou knowest it altogether. No, not One word but what God exactly knows. Tho' 'tis uttered with the lowest Whisper, 'tis as audible to God as Thunder. And indeed in the Judgment day, Men shall give an account of every late Word they speak, Mat. 12.36. Men sometimes plot, contrive, cabal to carry on some vile design; possibly they use utmost care to keep the matter Secret; but alas, God hears every word about it. But besides all this, God as fully knows the Hearts of men, as he does their Words or outward Actions. Solomon said to God, 1 King 8.39. Thou even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the Children of Men. There is not so much as any one of the Children of Men, but God knows his heart. He knows all the Thoughts of men, for no thought can be withholden from him. He knows the thoughts afar off, Psal. 139.2. What can be more plain and express than what God says? Ezek. 11.5. I know the things that come into your Mind, everyone of them. No one single thought can pass thro' our Minds, but God observes it. God knows what belief we entertain in our Minds, about himself, about his glorious perfections, about his holy Truths and Ways; what opinions we have about ourselves, about our own state as to the future World, about our own ways and actions; what opinions we have, about other Persons, other things, & the actions of others. He knows all our designs, purposes, contrivances of what nature soever they are; whether men know anything of them or not. He knows all the arguings and reasonings we at any time have, about any affair whatsoever. God knows all our doubts, fears objections; all our hopes, desires, wishes whether good or bad. He knows what we Love and what we Hate, what we Grieve for or Rejoice at. In a word, God is most perfectly acquainted with all the secret actions and motions of the Soul. He has a more exact knowledge of every man's heart, than the man himself has. It is undeniably true, that God exactly knows the heart of every Person. This was the first Proposition: we therefore proceed to the Second.
PROP. II. He will give to him according to his Ways.
GOD has made all Creatures for his own Glory. Prov. 16.4. And he will have glory from everyone of them, in one way or other. As for Rational Creatures, they are Subjects capable of Moral Government; therefore God their Sovereign has given them Laws and Rules to act and walk by. They should glorify God, by yielding unfeigned Obedience to his Laws; if they donit, He'll glorify himself in Punishing them for their Disobedience. Indeed all men have sinned, they all fell in Adam; and so became legally obnoxious, to the Everlasting Wrath and Vengeance of God. But God (in the wonders of his Grace) has so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son, this whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting Life, Joh. 3 1 • Tho' men's sins have been never so many or great, yet if they heartily spent of and turn from them, accepting of Christ on Gospel terms: they shall then be Pardoned and Saved for Ever. But if they donit heartily comply with this way of Salvation, they must perish unavoidably to all Eternity. Well, God will call all men to an account, and he will deal with them, according to what their hearts and ways have been. He sometimes (as we hinted before) deals with them in some measure, according to their ways even here in this world: but 'twill be more fully and completely done, hereafter in the Great Day of Judgment. Here therefore we may observe,
1. That every Person shall be brought to Judgment. We read, Mat. 23.31, 32. That all Nations must be gathered before Christ's Throne. They must be there assembled to be Tried Rom. 14.10. We must all stand before the Judgment-seat of Christ. All! What must none be excused? No, not so much as one. Small and Great must appear, and the Books (wherein their thoughts words and deeds were recorded) must be opened, Rev. 20.12. Rulers and Ruled, Rich and Poor, High and Low, Young and Old must appear. The Master as well as the Servant, must then appear; those that were Judges on Earth, as well as those that were Judged by them. The mighty Ones of the Earth, Kings and Emperors must appear; and also the Meanest and Lowest in the world. But what, may not some appear by Proxy? Maynit they get some Attorney to represent them, and manage their cause for them? No Indeed, everyone must Personally appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ. There's no possibility to avoid or escape it. Sometimes in this world, those that should be brought on their Trial, for some Crime they are accused of; do yet escape such a trial. It may be they hide, and so cannot be brought forth; or flee, they run away and cannot be seized; or they Fee or Bribe one or other; and so are not Tried as they should be. Such things as these are too common among men, but no such thing can be in the Day of Judgment. The Angels shall be the Sheriffs (if we may so term them) to bring all to the Bar of Christ; they shall be the Reapers, who shall gather both Wheat and Tares to receive their respective Doom, Mat 13 37 — 43. There's not one Man, Woman or Child in this Congregation, or in this World, but what must personally appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ.
2. There will be but two sorts of Persons, in the Day of Judgment. There will be the Godly and the Ungodly. The Godly are set forth, under the name of Sheep standing at Christ's Right hand; and the Ungodly, under the name of Goats standing at his Left hand, Mat. 25.33. All that shall be raised from the Dead, and all that shall be Judged (for both Quick and Dead must be Judge'd at Christ's appearing, 2 Tim. 4.1.) are distributed into the Just and Unjust, Act, 24.15. Into those that have done Good, and those that have done Evil, Joh. 5.28 29.
3. All the Good Deeds of the Godly shall be mentioned in the Day of Judgment, and be Eternally Rewarded. We read, that their Faith shall be found to Praise, Honor and Glory, in the Day of Christ's appearing, 1 Pet 1.6, 7 Then, their Secret Prayers shall be rewarded Openly, Mat. 6 6. Their Alens-deeds shall then be rewarded, Mat 25.34.35. Yea we are told in general, Eph. 6.8. That whasoever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. All the Pious Words and Counsels of the Godly; all their Just Righteous and Commendable Deeds; yea all their Holy Serious Thoughts, Designs, Purposes, Desires, shall then be Openly Published, Eternally and Gloriously Rewarded; a reward of Grace shall then be bestowed, for all their exercise of Grace here in this world. Then the Godly shall find by most blessed experience, that they served a good Master; that none of their doings or sufferings for Christ, were lost or in vain. They'll never repent of anything they did, or suffered for Christ. That day of Recompence, will be a day of inconceivable Joy to them. No Tongue can express, how surprizing, how ravishing their Joy and Delight will be, and that forever.
4. All the Sins of the Wicked shall be openly mentioned it the Judgment Day, and be Punish'd forever. As that day will bring surprizing Joy and Glory to the Godly; so 'twill bring surprizing Shame, Woe and Misery to the Wicked. Then their sinful Deeds, shall be laid open before the world. Now they often strive to Conceal their sins from men, and if they can do that, they content themselves. The Apostle says, Eph 5.12. It is a shame even to speak of those things, which are done of them in secret. They do them in Secret, because they are ashamed to have them known. Job 24, 14, 15. The Murderer rising with the Light slayeth the Poor and Needy; and in the Night is as a Thief. The eye also of the Adulterer waiteth for the twilight; saying no Eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. Thus the wicked seek to hide their Sins from men, but God will make them known hereafter. Doubtless there are many secret Murders, secret Thefts, secret Fornications and Adulteries, secret Extortions and methods of Unrighteous Gain; which the wicked would not have known to their Neighbors by any means. It may be they would not have them known to such a number of People as are now in this House, for all the World; and yet they must quickly be known to all the World For God will bring ever work into Judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be Good or whether it be Evil. Eccl 12 14 Woe to them that seek deep to hide their Council from the Lord▪ and their Works are in the dark, & they say, who seeth 〈◊〉 & who knoweth us? Isa. 29 15. But all their endeavors can never hide their Counsels nor Works from God; He sees them and will discover them. Mary of the wicked would Flash, and be ashamed to show their heads, if but some of their Secret Villanies, were now known to a few of their next Neighbors; but they'll all of them be made Public to Angels and Men, in the great Day. Absalom 's going in unto his Fathers Concubines on the house-top, was said to be done, before all Israel and before the Sun, 2 Sam. 12.12 But the most Secret sins of the wicked, shall be made more Public than that, in the Day of Judgment. Their sinful Words shall be then made public and known, as well as their sinful outward Actions. God will then convince ungodly sinners, of all their hard speeches which they have spoken against him, Jude v. 15. Yea of every 〈◊〉 word they speak, they must give an account in the Day of Judgment, Mat. 12 36 Some are now so hardened in sin, that they'll Openly speak filthy, obscene, profane, blasphemous words. Others not so daringly wicked, will yet speak vile abominable words in Secret; they'll Secretly revile, backbite, raise and spread ill and false reports of others; they'll secretly carry on vile designs of various sorts, their Tongues are set on fire of hell; but alas, these their Tongue-transgressions shall be laid open before the world, in the great Day. Yea their Secret heart-sins, which never broke forth into Words or outward Actions, shall then be laid open also. Our Savior speaks of committing Adultery in the heart, Mat. 5.28 So there are such things as Heart-Thieft, Heart-Murder and the like; when the hearts of the wicked secretly desire to do such things, and please themselves with the thoughts of doing them. Well, even Heart-abominations shall be called over, and condemned in the Judgment Day. For then, God will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and the counsels of the heart shall be made manifest, 1 Cor. 4, 5. Indeed all the sins of the Wicked, in their Thoughts, Words and Deeds, shall be made Known and Punish'd in the Great Day: That Day is called, Rom. 2 5 The Day of the Rebelation of God's Righteous Judgment. Twill Indeed be a Day of Revelations, a Day of great Discoveries; the sins of the Wicked shall then be openly discovered, and God's Wrath against them shall be discovered too. Then shall the Wicked receive from their Judge, according to all the Bad (the Evil) that they have done here in the Body, 2 Cor. 5.10. They shall be covered with Shame and Everlasting Contempt, Dan. 12.2. They shall receive Wrath and Vengeance, in full weight and measure for all their offenses. Then they'll find to their most sorrowful cost, that their neglecting and provoking God, was the highest Folly as well as Rebellion. Their pleasures in Sin were but for a Season, their plagues for Sin will be Everlasting. Their lusts burnt in them on Earth. God's wrath will burn on them in hell forever. Their Sins shall be set in order before their Faces, the view of which, will fill them with unutterable horror and confusion forever. Their Consciences, which in this World are often Sleepy▪ yea sometimes sear'd as with an hot Iron; shall then be awakened, and shall roar upon them, and fill them with inconceivable anguish to all Eternity.
We may now proceed to the USE of these things, in a few Inferences.
I. We should never allow ourselves in any Sin, under the Notion of it's being SECRET. Indeed, Sins are frequently and properly distinguished into Open and Secret; but this distinction refers only to Men, and not at all to God: for all things are equally known to him. Therefore Oh Man, never indulge thyself in any Sin, though' thou canst keep it secret a while from Men; such Secrecy, cannot exempt thee from Punishment at last. If thou darest not do such or such an ill thing, before Men, for fear of blame, shame and punishment from them; and yet darest to do the same ill thing in Secret, then thou showest more regard to Men than to God. It is said of some Idolaters, Rom. 1.25. They worshipped and served the Creature, more than the Creator. So thou showest more regard to Creatures, than to the Creator; if thou canst dare to Sin because 'tis in Secret. Thou showest more regard to Mans presence, than to God's presence; to Mans eye than to God's eye. Canst thou dare to Steal, because men donit see thee? But consider Oh man, the Great GOD, the Holy JEHOVAH stands by and looks on. Canst thou commit Fornication or Adultery, because there are no human Witnesses by? But consider, the great GOD sees thy filthiness, as plainly as he saw Absolom's on the House top, before all Israel and before the Sun. Canst thou dare to extort, cheat, defraud, because thou reckonest thou canst hide it from men? But alas, notwithstanding all thy Whiffling shuffling tricks, notwithstanding all the baffling plea's thou dost use with thy Sleepy Conscience; yet God observes very critically, all thy methods of Unrighteous gain; and he stamps a curse on thee for them. 1 Thes. 4.6. That no man go beyond or defraud his brother in any matter (not in any matter whatsoever) because the Lord is the avenger of all such. Canst thou dare among some of thine Intimates, to bely, revile, reproach others, to blast their reputation, to raise or spread ill reports of them; canst thou dare to do this, thinking 'twont be known that it comes from thee, or that it cannot be proved upon thee? Alas, the great GOD hears, and critically observes all this thy wickedness. So far as thou dost Indulge any Sin, under the Notion of it's being Secret; so far thou dost practically deny God to be Omnipresent, and Omniscient. For thou seemest to suppose, that there is no God, or that he is not an Allseeing and Holy Judge. Oh let not such cursed Atheism prevail in thy Soul. Thou shouldest avoid Sin chiefly for this reason, to wit, that it displeaseth and provoketh God; therefore thou shouldst avoid Secret as well as Open Sins, for the former as well as the latter are known to him, and provoke him. The Allseeing eye of thy glorious Judge is always upon thee, by Day and by Night, whether alone or in company; let the thought; of this, keep thee from allowing thyself in any known Sin whatsoever. When Joseph was tempted to Sin in Secret, he replied, Gen. 39 9. How shall I do this great wickedness, and Sin against God! He dare not do it, though' in Secret as to Men, for he considered that God would see and be provoked with it.
II. We should Repent even of our Secret Sins. It is not enough, that we repent of our Sinful Words and Actions, which are commonly known to those about us: but we should heartily Repent of our Secret Sins too, for our glorious Judge knows them all. Oh Man, Woman, it may be thou hast been guilty of secret Murder, secret Fornication or Adultery, secret Lyes or Perjuries, secret Reproaches and Defamations, secret Thiefts, Cheats, Frauds and Cursed methods of unrighteous gain; Well, God thy glorious Judge knows all these things What if men donit know them, yet thy Judge does, and he needs no Witnesses. What if thou shouldst go on Secretly in thy Wickedness, and go Impenitent and Undiscover'd to the Grave? What then? why all thy secret Villanies, shall hereafter be published before the World, and be Publish'd forever. Therefore speedily Repent of Secret (as well as open) wickedness. Awaken thy sleepy Conscience, let it do it's office, let it speak plainly and faithfully; hearken to it's reproofs, donit stiffle them; for it will roar dreadfully hereafter, and that to thine eternal confusion too, if speedy hearty Repentance prevent not. Oh be serious and in good earnest, examine thine heart, thy past actions Secret as well as others; unfeignedly Repent of, Mourn for, and Turn from even all thy Secret as well as open Sins. And if thou hast Secretly wronged others, in their Name or Estates, do thine utmost to make Reparation. Donit keep what thou hast gotten in any unjust way, though' never so secretly; thou wilt keep the Curse and Wrath of God on thy Soul, if thou dost. Oh take warning before 'tis too late, speedily and heartily Repent▪ fly to the blood of JESUS for Pardon, and forsake thy evil ways. GOD is now calling on thee and warning of thee to Repent; if thou dost not now take warning, it may be few or no more warnings may be given thee: or if they be, possibly God may Judicially give thee up to a seared Conscience; and may say, Let him that is filthy be filthy still, let him that is unjust be unjust still▪ What if God should say, if such an one, or such an one does not take warning, repent and reform now; then he shall go on in his secret ways of wickedness, and shall be blinded and hardened in Sin, till he drops into the unquenchible flames of the pit below; if God should say thus, how dreadful would it be! For the Lord's Sake, and for our Souls Sake▪ let us consider these things and impress them on our Consciences.
III. Here's matter of Support and Comfort to the Godly, under false Charges and Accusations laid against them. The world is commonly filled with groundless Rumors and false Reports; and the Godly often suffer much by them. The Apostle said, Rom. 3.8 We be slandorously Reported. David said, Psal. 35.11. False Witnesses did rise up, they laid to my Charge things that I knew not. Well, the consideration of the All-seeing Eye of our Glorious Judge, should quiet and support us if at any time vile false Reports are raised of us. If any Charge us with saying such or such ill things, which we never said; or with doing such or such ill things which we never did; or with having some ill design which we never had; if it be so, this may Support us, That GOD who knows all things and will Judge us at last, knows that we are Innocent in these matters. If our Consciences Testify for us in such Cases, they are better (as to our own inward Peace and Satisfaction) than a Thousand Witnesses. Indeed, if men raise false Reports of us, and our Name suffer thereby; we should seriously Consider God's Hand in such Affliction, ( David Ey'd the Hand of God in Shimei 's Cursing) inquire into the Voice and Meaning of such a Providence, and Indeavour to comply therewith by growing more Humble and Holy. Yet so far as we are Innocent, the thoughts of our Innocency being known to God, should greatly Quiet and Comfort us.
IV. We should be Incouraged to Secret Duties. As the Consideration, of the All-seeing Eye of our Glorious Judge, should keep us from Secret as well as Open Sins; so it should quicken us to Secret as well as Open Duties. We should be Religious in our Cases, as well as in the place of God's Public 〈◊〉 . Remember what Motive our Lord 〈◊〉 , to Quicken unto Secret Prayer, Mat. 6 6. Enter into thy Closet, and when thou hast short thy Door, Pray to thy Father which seeth in Secret; and thy Father which SEETH IN SECRET shall REWARD THEE OPENLY. God Sees and will Reward, Secret as well as Open Duties; therefore we should be Incourag'd to them We should be Quicken'd to do what's Good and Laudable, though' men donit see us, though' there's little or no notice taken of it by others; for God sees every Sincere Duty, is Pleas'd with it and will Reward it. If men give Alms out of Obedience to God, though' so Secretly that their right hand scarce knows what their left hand does; yet he that sees in Secret will reward it Openly. Such Alms shall come up for a Memorial before God. He that is Secretly and Sincerely (as well as Externally) Pious, shall be Openly and Eternally Glorious.
V. We should use utmost Diligence to be Sincere and Hearty, in all our External Religious (or other Commendable) Performances God not only hears all our Words and sees our Outward Actions, but He also observes the Inward Principles from whence they flow; even all the secret Designs of the heart in them. Many things have a fair Outside to men's Eye, but a black In-side to God's Eye. The Pharisees did Outwardly appear Righteous to Men but Inwardly were full of Iniquity and Hypocrisy: All the good things they did, they did them to be seen of Men, Mat. 23.5, 38. Men often serve the Devil and their own Lusts, under a Mask of Religion, under a plausible show and pretence of Holiness. Absalom asks leave to go to Hebron, under a pretence of paying his Vows to God; when Treason was in his Heart; his design was to raise a Rebellion against his Royal Father. Jezebel orders a Fast, pretends to have Justice done, and a Reformation wrought; when the design was, to Murder Naboth and get his Vineyard. Herod Inquires after the holy Child Jesus, pretending to Worship him, but intending to Murder him, Mat. 2. ch Alas, the Devil transforms himself into an Angel of Light, and his Children often Imitate him in such hellish dissimulation. They often pretend much zeal for God, when indeed their hearts are Set on their wickedness. Well, let us never allow ourselves in such hypocritical practices, for GOD our Judge Sees our Hearts; though' 'tis possible to deceive Men 'tis impossible to deceive God. Let our main care therefore be, to approve our hearts to God in all we do. We all call ourselves Christians, we profess and pretend to be the Disciples of Christ; but if we are not hearty and sincere in it, God will damn us for our Unbelief and Hypocrisy. If we have not the Power as well as the Form, of Godliness; if we have not Oil in our Vessels ( i. e. Grace in our Souls) as well as in our Lamps ( i. e our outward Profession) then we shall perish forever. Therefore On Man, be a Christian indeed and in truth, unfeignedly receive Christ on Gospel-terms, and live to him as Prince and Savior. Outward shows without inward Sincerity, will avail thee nothing in a dying-hour What though' thou dost profess the self 〈◊〉 Christian, what if thou art a Church Member, and dost lead a blameless Life in the view of Men, and all thy Neighbors count thee an eminent Saint; yet if thy heart be unsound and hypocritical, God will cast thee into Hell forever. Ih never content nor satisfy thyself, merely in approving thyself to Men, and getting their good Opinion of thee; but approve thy heart to God in all things. Donit content thyself in doing those things that are Materially good, but see that thine heart be right with God, in the doing of them. When thou hearest a Sermon, let thy heart be Ingag'd with God in that Duty. When thou makest a Prayer, let thine Heart as well as thy Mouth draw nigh to God. Oh Christian, take heed that thou dost not deceive thyself, even in doing that which is Materially good and commendable. Be vigorous to promote everything that's Holy Just and Good; yet donit be Hypocritical in it, donit do it to be seen of men: but do it out of hearty Obedience to God, aiming at his Glory therein, for he sees thy heart whatever thy pretences are. Be zealous against Sin in others, duly to witness against and suppress it; this is thy Duty, donit neglect it. Yet donit allow the same Sins, nor any others in thyself. And again take heed, that thou art not carried forth by a Spirit of prejudice or revenge; for if 'tis personal prejudice or revenge, that makes thee condemn the faults of others, then thou dost serve the Devil and thine own lusts in doing it: thou dost make the lusts of others, fuel for thine own lusts to feed on. Take heed therefore that thy heart be right with God, even in doing those things which are Materially good and laudable; for God sees the heart, and hares Hypocrisy. He hates Robbery for burnt offerings, Isa 61 8 He hates that Men under a pretence of honoring him, should serve the Devil and their own corruptions. Therefore do the things that God commands, but do them with an Upright Heart, and with Sincere Designs.
VI. We should not allow ourselves in anything, but what we can give a good account of in the Day of Judgment. Surely this should be our greatest Study and Care, since our Text tells us, That God will Give to everyone according to his ways. It may be when we are to manage such or such an affair, we think and consider what to do in it; and we inquire in our own Minds, what will such and such Persons, it may be great Men, or it may be some intimate Friends or near Relations; what will they think or say of it, how will they like it? I say, it may be we are apt to reason thus with ourselves, about what we are going to do (and indeed it may not be improper, in many cases and circumstances thus to query) but our great inquiry should be. How will God like of it? What will our glorious Judge think of it? Will it please him? Then let us do it though' it displease all men. Will it displease God? Then let us shun it though' Men are never so much provoked thereby. Let us act or not act, as shall be most for our Peaceable and Comfortable account, in the great Day of Judgment. According as we behave ourselves now, so shall we be dealt with here-after. For we are told Joh. 5.28, 29. (with which I shall conclude) All that are in they Graves shall hear his (that is, Christ's) Voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life, and they that have done Evil to the Resurrection of Damnation.
BOSTON, N E. Printed by B. Green, for a Public Good. 1710.