SERMON III.

The Danger and mifchief of delaying Repentance.

PSALM CXIX. 60. I made hafte, and delayed not to keep thy Commandments.

TH

HIS Pfalm (no lefs excellent in vertue, than large in bulk) containeth manifold reflexions upon the nature, the properties, the adjuncts and effects of God's Law, many fp ghtly ejaculations about it (conceived in different forms of fpeech; fome in way of petition, fome

H 4

fome of thanksgiving, fome of refolution, fome of affertion or aphorifm) many usefull directions, many zealous exhortations to the obfervance of it; the which are not ranged in any strict order, but, (like a variety of fair flowers and wholesome herbs in a wild field) do with a gratefull confufion lie difperfed, as they freely did fpring up in the heart, or were fuggefted by the devout fpirit of him, who indited the Pfalm; whence no coherence of fentences being defigned, we may confider any one of them abfolutely or fingly by it felf.

Among them, that which I have picked out for the fubject of my discourse, implieth an excellent rule of practice, authorised by the Pfalmift's example; it is propounded in way of devotion or immediate address to God; unto whofe infallible knowledge his confcience maketh an appeal concerning his practice; not as boasting thereof, but as praifing God for it,

unto

whole

whose gratious inftruction and fuccour he frequently doth afcribe all his performances: But the manner of propounding I fhall not infift upon; the rule it felf is, that speedily, without any procrastination or delay, we fhould apply our felves to the obfervance of God's Commandments; the practice of which rule it shall be my endeavour to recommend and press.

Recognofce fingulos, confidera univerfos, nullius non vita fpeEtat in craftinum ; non enim vivunt, fed victuri funt. Sen. Ep. 45.

It is a common practice of men, that are engaged in bad courfes, which their own confcience difcerneth and disapproveth, to adjourn the reformation of their lives to a farther time, fo indulging themselves in the present commiffion of fin, that yet they would feem to purpose, and promise themselves hereafter to repent, and take up: Few Victuros agi mus Jemper, refolve to perfift finally in an evil nec vivimus way, or despair of being one day unquam. Maş reclaimed, but immediately and ef- 4. fectually to fet upon it, many deem

un

nil.

Prov. 6. 10.

Plut. in Pelop.

unfeasonable or needlefs; it will, they prefume, be foon enough to begin to morrow or next day, a month or a year hence, when they fhall find more commodious opportunity, or fhall prove better difpofed thereto; in the mean time with Solomon's fluggard, Tet, fay they, a little fleep, a little flumber, a little folding of the hands; let us but neglect this duty, let us but fatisfie this appetite, let us but enjoy this bout of pleasure; hereafter, God willing, we mean to be more carefull, we hope that we shall become more fober: So like bad debtors; when our confcience dunneth us, we always mean, we always promise to pay; if she will stay a while, fhe fhall, we tell her, be fatisfied; or like vain spendthrifts, we see our eftate fly, yet prefume that it will hold out, and at length we shall referve enough for our ufe. Eis a ον τὰ σπεδαία, Let ferious bufine Stay till the morrow, was a faying that coft dear to him who faid it; yet

we

we in our greatest concerns follow

him.

But how fallacious, how dange- Non eft crede rous and how mifcievous this man- dicere, vivam. mihi fapientis ner of proceeding is; how much Mart. 1, 16.4 better and more advisable it is, after the example propounded in our Text, fpeedily to betake our felves unto the difcharge of our debt and duty to God, the following confiderations will plainly declare.

1. We may confider, that the obfervance of God's Commandments (an obfervance of them proceeding from an habitual difpofition of mind, in a conftant tenour of practice) is our indifpenfable duty, our main concernment, our onely way to happiness; the necessary condition of our attaining falvation; that alone which can procure God's love and favour toward us; that unto which all real bleffings here, and all blifs hereafter are infeparably annexed: Fear God and keep his Commandments, Eccl. 12. 13. for this is the whole of man; (the whole duty, the whole defign, the

whole