matter of joyful reflection. Yea, there is joy in heaven over one finner that repenteth.

USE 4. If gospel-impenitents are inexcufable, who perish in their own iniquity; how much more fuch finners as are voluntarily inftrumental to the fin and ruin of others!

The apostle speaks of some, (Rom. i. 32.) who knowing the judgment of God, (that they which commit fuch things are worthy of death,) not only do the fame, but have pleasure in them that do them. They entice others to fin with them, they rejoice in iniquity, and take pains to promote it. They act the part of factors for hell, and even glory in their fhame. Surely fuch are very devils incarnate and muft needs be of all men the most inexcufable. The guilt of other mens' fins will fall heavy upon their heads; and this added to the weight of their own fins, muft needs fink them deep into hell. Verily, the hottest abode in everlasting burnings is due to these execrable wretches.

USE 5. What abundant reafon have they to admire the grace of God toward them, who after a course of great fin, under gofpel-light, have been converted!

If Paul, who obtained mercy, when he finned ignorantly in unbelief, found occafion to fay, The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant toward him; how much more does the fame grace abound, when fuch as under the gospel have finned wilfully after they had received the knowledge of the truth, do come, notwithstanding, to be partakers of the benefit! Sometimes we fee furprifing inftances of converfion in fuch as have long rejected the calls of the gospel, and run great lengths in vice and profanenefs. God has met them in fome affecting word, or awakening providence; and made them willing in the day of his power.-Though they have been guilty of very aggravated rebellion, and inexcufable

P 4

inexcufable obftinacy: Yet the God of all patience would still pursue them with convictions, and not leave them until he had brought them on to a thorough converfion. When he might have glorified his juftice, and made them the flaming trophies of his eternal vengeance; he yet magnified his grace, and made them the bright monuments of his faving mercy. How should fuch admire and triumph in the riches of free grace! They fhould with grateful fouls ever celebrate the kindness and love of God their Saviour toward them in fuch language as that, Titus iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to bis mercy be faved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft.

II.

II.

One shall be taken, and another left.

A

SERMON

PREACHED TO

THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH IN BOSTON,

March 22. 1740—1.

A Season wherein there was a remarkable display of the Sovereign Grace of God in the work of Conversion.

BY

WILLIAM COOPER,

Minifter of the Gospel.

Į tell

Luke xvii. 34, 35, 36.

you, In that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Two men fhall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

THESE words admit of a threefold application. They

may be applied to the ruin which came upon the nation and people of the Jews, after they had crucified the LORD of Glory, and rejected his gospel; when the Romans laid fiege to their city, and took it, and fuch multitudes

perished

perished by famine and by fword: and to this indeed they primarily refer. They are a prediction of a wonderful diftinction which fhould be made at that calamitous time by divine providence, according to that which had been before made by divine grace; even among people of the fame bufinefs and circumflances of life, and alfo in the fame vifible danger. All things fhould not then come alike to all. There should be a different event to the believer and the unbeliever; to those who were the disciples of Christ, and those who were not fo. The one, by a sovereign turn of providence, fhould be saved from the common desolation,. and the other left to perish in it. If two men were at work in the field together, and one of them was a Christian, he fhould be led out into a fecret place of fafety, and have his life given him for a prey; while the other fhould be left to fall into the enemies' hands, and die by the sword. If but two women were grinding at the mill, and one of them belonged to Chrift, (for in Chrift Fefus there is neither male nor female,) she, though but a woman, a poor woman, of low degree, in the condition of a bond-maid, fhould be refcued, and hid under the wing of the divine protection, while the other fhould be abandoned, and carried away with the overflowing fcourge. If two intimate acquaintance, or near relations, were in bed together, one of them related to Chrift, the other not, he, who was the friend of Chrift, fhould be plucked as a brand out of the burning, while his fellow fhould be left to fhare the common but dreadful fate.--Such diftinguishing prefervations are fometimes granted in times of general deftruction. So Lot was faved out of Sodom, and Noah was preferved when the old world was drowned. And when the threatened amazing ruin of Jerufalem was completed, this prophecy or promise was in a vifible and very wonderful manner fulfilled; for all the Chriftians among them were faved from perishing in that calami

ty,

ty, by the special care of Heaven; as the Jewish history informs us. This should encourage us to distinguish ourselves for God, in times of common defection and general corruption. Believe it, though in fome refpects you may be lofers for religion, yet you fhall not finally be lofers by it. All our fafety lies in a faithful adherence to Chrift. We have this commiffion from the eternal God, (Ifai. iii. 10.), Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they fhall eat the fruit of their doings. Wo unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him. And our duty and encouragement are put together by the prophet, (Zeph. ii. 3.) Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment ; seek righteousness, feek meekness, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.

The words may also be applied to the general day of judgment, at the fecond coming of Jefus Chrift, and the feparation which will be made at that day. The Lord knows them that are his; and this day will make them manifest. The beep fhall be divided from the goats; the elect from the reprobate. Men will not be taken into heaven by families, as Noah was into the ark, but by individuals. One fhall be

taken, and another shall be left. He fhall be distinguished from thofe nearest to him in this world, according to his own personal character; as he is found in or out of Chrift."Those that sleep in the duft of the earth, two in the fame grave, their ashes mixed, yet fhall arife, one to be taken "to everlasting life, the other left to shame and everlasting contempt."-But the distinction here may rather be ap. plied to them who fhall be found alive at Christ's second coming. Chrift will come unlooked for. It may be the laft trumpet will begin to found in the dead of the night, when people are in a fast and secure fleep; and they who are afleep together in the fame bed, one shall be taken up to meet the Lord and his angels in the air, and be adjudged

to