Page:Duty of redeeming the time in evil days, illustrated and enforced.pdf/18

18 honour. We would fain hope that the Lord will yet bring glorious days; but it is very probable that many of the present generation shall be shovelled out of the way in the first place. Hence saith the Lord, Ezek xx 37, 38. "I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me."

(4.) The consequences of them can hardly miss to be dreadful. "Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” Jer. ix. 9. Where sin comes to such a height, readily severe judgments quickly follow. And we can see nothing that may give any hope that we shall miss to see sad days, but that the Lord can pour out his Spirit, and turn us back: but, alas! in the mean time we look always the longer unlike such a merciful turn in our affairs.

(5.) Lastly, They have a sad aspect on posterity. The Jews crucified Christ above sixteen hundred years ago, and their children to this day are smarting under it. And sure I am, if matters continue in the course they are in at this day in this land any long time, the succeeding generation will be in a miserable plight.

These things call aloud to redeeming of time. And, 1. Consider well your own ways, that you may see if you be joined or not in the conspiracy against God with the generation; Hag. i 5. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways." Alas! it may be easily seen, that most of us are deep in the score, and none of us can wipe our mouths, and say justly, we have not sinned, we have not had a hand in the general declining.

2. Bestir yourselves, and save yourselves from this untoward generation," Acts ii. 10. Take another way than the common course of the day wherein you live. God is saying, “Come out from among them, my people, be ye separate, and touch not uncle thing:" stand at a distance from their sinful ways, and be not partakers with their sins, lest ye partake of their plagues,

3. Live near God, and by your tender holy walking, give a practical testimony against the abounding sin of