might rest in the day of trouble.” To stand at a distance from sinful courses, in a sinning time, is the way to safety and comfort in a suffering time. Hence is the commission from the Lord in favour of his people, Ezek. ix. 4. "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of men that sigh, and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." It is pleasing to the flesh to go with the multitude, in a time of God's patience with a sinful generation: but when the Lord comes to plead his controversy with the generations, there will be a dreadful reckoning, and they will then come off with loss. But "thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy," Rev. iii. 4.
7th. Lastly, This is a rational way of acting, and so do wise men in their temporal affairs. If a harvest day be cloudy or windy, do not men the more vigorously handle their sickles? If a dearth be feared, are not men the more careful to provide for themselves? Even the very ants are busy in harvest, while the winter is approaching. But, alas! the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light; and the sluggard needs to be set to school to learn of the ants.
I come now to the application of this doctrine, which is the principal thing I had in view. And
Use I. shall be of exhortation. O let us be stirred up to redeem time, because our days are evil. Alas! our days are evil days with a witness, and they are still growing worse and worse; and the progress in the way of evil is so swift, that we seem to be very near arrived at that pitch, at which the Lord's anger may be expected to break forth into a flame. Our days are evil days in several respects; in respect of corruption of doctrine and principles of religion;-in respect of abounding sin:-in respect of the hiding of the Lord's face;-in respect of threatened wrath and impending judgments; and in respect the guile of former times yet unpurged away.
First, Our days are evil days in respect of corruption of doctrine and principles of religion. The tares are sown and grow apace in the Lord's field. Papists are spreading
