NOTES UPON PART II. 189 another, by preparing the heart to receive the good seed of divine truth, which is sown in it: yet every one willingly chooses the way he takes, without any constraint or hindrance, except his own prevailing dispositions. This consideration gives the greatest encouragement to the use of all proper means, in order to influence sinners to choose the good part: for who knows, but the most obvious truth, warning, or exhortation, given in the feeblest manner, may reach the conscience of a child, relative, neighbour, enemy, or persecutor; even when the most convincing and persuasive discourses of eloquent and learned, teachers produce no effect? 14..15. Tale...The following dialogue, by the names, arguments, and discourse introduced into it, shows what kind of persons despise and revile all those that fear GOD and seek the salvation of their souls; from what principles, affections, and conduct such opposition springs; and on what grounds it is maintained. Men of the most profligate characters, who never studied or practised religion in their lives, often pass sentence on the sentiments and actions of pious persons, and decide in the most difficult controversies, without the least hesitation; as if they knew the most abstruse subjects by instinct or intuition, and were acquainted with the secrets of men's hearts! These presumers should consider, that they must be wrong, let who will be right; that any religion is as good as open impiety and profligacy; and that it behoves them to "cast out the beam out of their own eye, before they "attempt to pull out the mote from their brother's eye."Believers also, recollecting the vain conversation from which they have been redeemed, and the obligations that have been conferred upon them, should not disquiet themselves about the scorn and censure of such persons, but learn to pray for them, as entitled to their compassion, even more than their detestation. 16..17. Invitation...There are remarkable circumstances attending the conversion of some persons, with which others are wholly unacquainted. The singular dispensations of 190 NOTES UPON PART II. providence, and the strong impressions made by the word of GOD upon their minds, seem to amount to a special invitatation: whereas others are gradually and gently brought to think on religious subjects, and to embrace the proposals of the gospel; who are therefore sometimes apt to conclude, that they have never been truly awakened to a concern about their souls. This discouragement is often increased by the discourse of such professors, as lay great stress on the circumftances attending conversion: these misapprehen. sions however are best obviated, by showing that "the "Lord delighteth in mercy," that CHRIST "will in no "wise cast out any that come to him," and that they who leave all earthly pursuits to seek salvation, and renounce all other confidence to trust in the mercy of GoD through the redemption of his Son, shall assuredly be saved. 18..23. Worse...The author seems to have observed a declension of evangelical religion, subsequent to the publication of his original pilgrim. Probably he was grieved to find many renounce or adulterate the gospel, by substituting plausible speculations, or moral lectures in its stead; by narrowing and confining it within the limits of a nice system, which prevents the preacher from freely inviting sinners to come unto CHRIST; by representing the preparation of heart requisite to a sincere acceptance of free salvation, as a legal condition of being received by him; or by condemning all diligence, repentance, and tenderness of conscience, as interfering with an evangelical frame of spirit. By these, and various other misapprehensions, the passage over the slough is made worse; and they occasion manifold discouragements to awakened sinners, even to this day: for, as the promises, strictly speaking, belong only to believers, if invitations and exhortations be not freely given to sinners in general, a kind of gulph will be formed, over which no way can be seen. except as men take it for granted, without any kind of evidence, that they are true believers, which opens the door to manifold delusions and enthusiastic pretensions. But if all be invited, and encouraged to ask, that they may receive, the awakened sinner will be animated to hope in God's mercy and use the means of grace, and thus giving diligence to make his calling and election sure, he will be enabled to rise superior to the discouragements, by which others are retarded. Labourers enough. indeed are ready to lend their assistance, in mending the road across this slough; but let them take care that they use none but scriptural materials, or they will make bad worse. 19..13. Your fore...Some persons are discouraged by recollecting past sins, and imagining them too heinous to be forgiven; while others disquiet themselves by the apprehension, that they have never been truly humbled and converted. Indeed all the varieties in the experience of those, who upon the whole are walking in the same path, can never be enumerated, and some of them are not only unreasonable, but unaccountable, through the weakness of the human mind, the abiding effects of peculiar impressions, the remains of unbelief, and the artifices of SATAN. 20..7. Nor durst...The greater fervency new converts manifest in prayer for themselves and each other, the more violent opposition will they experience from the powers of darkness. Many have felt such terrors, whenever they attempted to pray, that they have for a time been induced wholly to desist: and doubtless numbers, whose convictions were superficial, have thus been finally driven back to their former course of ungodliness. But when the fear of GoD, and a real belief of his word possess the heart; such disturbances cannot long prevent earnest cries for mercy, but will eventually render them more fervent and importunate than ever. 23..4. By word... Pardon by word' denotes the general discovery of free salvation by JESUS CHRIST to all that believe; which, being depended on by the humbled sinner, is sealed by transient comforts and lively affections. Pardon by deed' relates to the manner, in which the blessing was purchased by the Saviour; and when this is clearly V V V 2 192 NOTES UPON PART II. understood, the believer attains to stable peace and hope. This coincides with the explanation already given of the Gate, the Crofs, and the Sepulchre; and it will be further confirmed in the sequel. The pardon by deed' must be waited for; yet the pilgrims obtained a distant glimpse of the deed by which they were saved, for some general apprehensions of redemption by the cross of CHRIST commonly connect with the believers first comforts; though the nature and glory of it be more fully perceived as they proceed. 24..1. Written...The express words of such invitations, exhortations and promises prove more effectual to encourage those who are ready to give up their hopes, than all the consolatory topics that can possibly be substituted in their place. It is, therefore, much to be lamented, that pious men, by adhering to a supposed systematical exactness of expression should clog such scriptural addresses with exceptions and limitations, which the Spirit of GOD did not see good to insert. They will not say that the omission was an oversight in the inspired writers; or admit the thought for a moment, that they can improve on their plan: why then cannot they be satisfied to "speak "according to the oracles of God," without affecting a more entire consistency? Great mischief has thus been done by very different descriptions of men, who undesignedly concur in giving SATAN an occasion of suggesting to the trembling enquirer, that perhaps he may persevere in asking, seeking, and knocking, with the greatest earnestness and importunity, and yet finally be a cast-away. When the sinner prays under the urgent fear of perishing, he is excited to peculiar fervency of spirit: and the more fervent our prayers are, the better are they approved by the Lord, how much soever men may object to the manner or expressions of them. 24..21. Had I...Could soldiers, when they enlist, foresee all the dangers and hardships to be encountered; or could mariners, when about to set sail, be fully aware of all the difficulties of the voyage; their reluctancy or discouragement would be increased by the prospect. But, when they have NOTES UPON PART II. 193 engaged, they find it impossible to recede; and thus they press forward through one labour and peril after another, till the campaign or voyage be accomplished. Thus it is with the christian: but they strive for corruptible things, which they may never live to obtain; while he seeks for an incorruptible crown of glory, of which no event can deprive him if he knew all from the first, it would be his only wisdom to venture; whereas the case with them is commonly very different. 27.7. As boys...The terrifying suggestions of SATAN give believers much present uneasiness; yet they often do them great good, and never eventually hurt them: but the allurements of those worldly objects, which he throws in their way, are far more dangerous and pernicious. Many of these, for which the aged have no relish, are very attractive to young persons: but, instead of conniving at their indulging themselves, from an idea that allowance must be made for youth; all who love the souls of their children, should use their influence and authority to restrain them from such vain pleasures as "war against the soul," and are most dangerous when least suspected. This fruit may be found in the pilgrim's path; but it grows in BEEL-ZEBUB's garden, and should be shunned as poison, Many diversions and pursuits, both in high and low life, are of this nature, though often pleaded for as innocent by some persons who ought to know better. ..18. Two...(Page 7.) SATAN designs, by every means, to take off awakened sinners from the great concern of eternal salvation; and he makes use of ungodly men for that purpose, among his manifold devices against the female sex. These are very ill-favoured to the gracious mind; however alluring their persons, circumstances, or proposals may be to the carnal eye. As such vile seducers are too often successful, they are emboldened to attempt even those who profess to be religious nor are they always repulsed by them, for many, of whom favourable hopes were once entertained, have thus awfully been again entangled and overcome, so that their last |