The Church-Sleeper AWAKENED, OR A DISCOURSE On Act. 20.9. being the Substance of two Sermons Composed and Preached at Cork in Ireland.  
By Joseph Eyre's Master of Arts, and a Servant of God in the Gospel of his Son.  〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Mat. 26.40. 
LONDON, Printed by W. Godbid, for Joseph Cranford, at the Sign of the Kings-Head in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1659.   

To his much Honoured and dearly beloved Friends, the Inhabitants of Cork, both Magistrates, and People; those especially that are his usual Hearers at Christ-Church:  
JOSEPH EYRES Dedicateth this ensuing discourse, as an expression of his thankfulness for their owning of him in the worst Times. And wisheth increase of grace here, and fullness of glory hereafter.  
Worthy and Christian Friends,  
TIme was when men of Anti-Magistratical, and Anti— Ministerial Principles were very imposing, and imperious, being as sharp thorns in the tender eyes of those to whom settlement and order in Church, and State were very dear: yet in Times of greatest Ataxy, Apostasy, Confusion, the Lordhath still had a remnant in this place, that have sighed in secret for all the abominations, blasphemies, and boisterous oppositions against the Truth that have been in the midst of us. Some of those melting mourners the Lord hath called home, and taken to himself, and for the briny brook, that they have drunk of in the way, hath given them to drink of the river of his pleasure.  
Others have lived to see better days, and are not without some budding hopes that it shall at length go well with Zion, which they have performed before their choicest comforts, and their chiefest joy. O how welcome is that hand of heaven that gins to lift up the poor out of the dust, and to wipe away the tears from the swollen eyes, and blubbered cheeks of the Daughters of Jerusalem, giving unto them beauty for ashes, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness!  
Your condition you looked upon as deplorably sad, whilst without power in your own hands to reform the abuses, and redress the evils you laboured under. Providence hath restored unto you your Charter, with your several Ornaments of honour, and Badges of authority, and hereby put you into a capacity of being Reformers, Repairers of breaches, and Executioners of justice; so that if you will but quit yourselves like men, appear against the growing and prevailing corruptions of the Times, and give a check to the insolency of men's unruly lusts, you may expect to be carried as on eagle's wings, to be preserved under the shadow of the mightiest grace, and to have the blessing of peace within your walls, and plenty within your palaces.  
Let not your present outward meanness in the world, and want of an encouraging Revenue to support your state, retard your motions, discourage you in your duty, make you loath to intermeddle much in matters of Government, and take you off from an Heroic and Magnanimous managing of that High Trust that is reposed in you. Do but lay out yourselves wholly for God; be warm and vigorous in the prosecution of those designs that tend to his glory; execute justice impartially upon offending one's; that the mouth of iniquity may be stopped, the most daring transgressors daunted, and constrained to hid themselves through fear and shame; and you shall find that the Lord will sweetly smile, and shine upon your Tabernacles, 
1 Sam. 2.30.  and compass you about with his loving kindness, as with a shield. 
2 Chron. 15.20.  The Lord will honour those that honour him. The Lord will be with you, whilst you are with him. Besides, I charitably hope, and am verily persuaded, did the State but hear of your renowned zeal, severe reformation, and through owning of the ways of God, their hearts would be much drawn forth to mind your concernments, and to encourage you in the Lords work, by bestowing upon you some signal expression of favour and respect; and the rather, because of your former, never to be forgotten kindness in seasonably opening your gates to receive and relieve their Army harassed and worn out with wants and weakness.  
A few words of wholesome advice I shall entreat you candidly to interpret and accept. You who are now incorporated into a Civil Society, labour to be incorporated into Christ, and to be free Denizens of the new Jerusalem that is above. 
John 8.36.  If the Son make you free, you shall be free indeed. Purge your own Hearts, and reform your own Families, and hereby give a good example unto others to do the like. Let your Houses be little Churches, in which God shall be duly worshipped, and his name daily called upon. Live in subjection to the Laws of Christ's Kingdom, and call upon others to stoop with their neck to the same Yoke.  
Your incorporation and conjunction calls loudly on you for union and unanimity. Keep therefore the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. 
Ephes. 4.3.  Let your hearts be seasoned with the salt of grace, and be at peace among yourselves. Beware of being divided in your consultations, and transactions. It was well observed by Nazianzen, That Dissolution is the Daughter of Dissension. As the conflict of contrary humours causeth diseases and destructive distempers in the body natural: so the clashings and contests of men, who are armed with contrary principles, and aim at different ends; and in stead of promoting the good of the Community, make it their business to advance the interest of a Faction, will prove fatal, and of dangerous consequence to the body politic.  
Maintain a cordial, close, and comfortable correspondence with your Church-Guides, whom you see a clear Providence making your Overseers. People's taking liberty to themselves to disown and desert at pleasure their own Pastors, and hankering after novel, both Preachers, and Opinions, hath turned the Church into a confused Chaos; discomposed Christ's mystical Body, and afflicted its members with distortions and dislocations.  
Time was, when the breath of a Minister was abhorred, and would hardly be endured in Cork, and his coming to the City as much dreaded as the Invasion of an enemy. Blessed be God that your eyes do again behold your Teachers; that the number of them in this County is increased, and they encouraged with the refreshing influence of Authority. You cannot be ignorant, how long you were constrained to wait, and how many difficulties were waded through ere an Order could be procured for my establishment, and settling among you, by reason of the undermining suggestions of some whispering Contrasentients.  
For the space of six years I have been your unworthy Teacher, and preached the Gospel unto the Inhabitants of this City; I hope not altogether without success. Though I must pofess, that I cannot but with grief take notice of the fewness of those sheaves that are gathered into Christ's barn. How hard are men's hearts under the continual beating of the hammer! How do they harden their hearts like the adamant against the clear convictions of the Word! How do men stand out against Christ, when summoned to come in, and entertain his Message with perpetual quarrels, and endless contradictions! This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.  
Let me passionately beseech you in the bowels of Christ Jesus, your Lord, and mine, to be wise in this your day, and mind the things that do belong unto your peace.  
Let the sounding of the Silver Trumpet of the Gospel awaken you, and cause you to shake off that unwieldy frame of spirit that makes men dull and indisposed to the duties of Religion.  
Let your hearts be upright with God, and be you faithful to the Truth in giddy and declining Times. Buy the Truth at any rate; 
Prov. 23.3.  but part with it at no rate whatsoever. It will be your safety and honour to retain and hold fast the form of wholesome words delivered to you, and to remain unshaken in your Principles, though stormy winds of temptation and persecution should arise, and blow upon you with a formidable and affrighting fury. Though all men should forsake Christ, yet do not you forsake him. There are many windfalls in Christ's Orchard; be you like those few remaining berries in the top of the uppermost bough, abhorring disunion and defection, and resolving not to be rend (though with a violent hand) from your Renowned Root. Mortify throughly, and betimes all itching desire after novelty, lest it break forth into the spreading and crusty scab of Apostasy. Beg wisdom of God, whereby you may be able to distinguish betwixt the voice of Christ, and the voice of a stranger. Be not taken with the flaring light of every blazing Comet, and ignis fatuus, that would flock you into byways, and dangerous paths. Keep your heads and hearts from being flyblown with the unsavoury breath of every rotten-hearted Preacher. Take heed of going forth, and dancing after their delusive pipe, who (the better to deceive, and draw you into the snare) pretend to rare and rich discoveries; lest you come home with a vertigo in your heads, and be troubled with the staggers in Religion ever after.  
I shall conclude with pressing upon you that serious and savoury advice, which his Excellency the Lord Deputy, when at Cork in his late Progress, gave to the Chief of you, with some Justices of Peace of the Country that were then present. You may remember that you were commanded, and encouraged,  
1. To put a stop to the overflowing flood of profaneness, by putting in execution the several wholesome Laws that are in force against swearing, drunkenness, uncleanness, and the like enormous practices.  
2. To provide for the sanctification of the Sabbath, by making use of that power that is put into your hands, in punishing and suppressing its too frequent, and Atheistical violation. Let it not lie as a reproach on Cork, that Ordinance-despisers, and Sabbath-breakers cannot be so secure from the stroke and dint of Justice in any place in Ireland as in this.  
3. To make use of provided and proscribed means for the conversion of the Popish Irish within your Jurisdiction. The work is desirable, and of grand concernment, conducing whereunto among many other are the following expedients.  
1. The bringing of the Natives to the Puklick Worship. Compel them to come in, that God's house may be full. Bring them within the compass of the net, if ever you expect they should be caught. Let not their rooted and peevish lothness to attend upon the Ordinances deter you from doing your duty. They that now quarrel and contend with you, as being too severe and harsh, will in the day of visitation glorify God, and call you blessed.  
2. The removeing and transplanting of such as (to use his Excellencies own words) are stiff and sullen in their way; and are not only possessed themselves with grinning prejudices against the Protestant Religion, but do likewise make it their design to create and continue the like prejudices in the rest of their Brethren, who possibly might otherwise be reclaimed, and brought unto the knowledge of the truth.  
Remember the Oath of God with which you are bound to act and rule according to Law, and be you faithful unto your Trust. Yield Obedience to his Excellencies Commands in the expressed instances, and buckle in good earnest to the business of Religion and Reformation, that so we may at length become amountain of holiness, an habitation of righteousness, in which the Lord will delight to dwell, which shall be promoted by the prayers and endeavours of  
From my Study in Cork Sept. 7. 1658. Your Servant in the Lords work, JOSEPH EYRES.   

THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.  
Courteous Reader,  
A Christian (how plausible soever his pretences may be) cannot be right at root, so long as the bare bulk of duty satisfies, without regard had to the manner of the performance. The iniquity of holiest things, and the sinful adherencies of the best duties are highly provoking, and sufficiently ponderous to depress and sink the soul into the lowest hell: so that it nearly concerns us to enter upon spiritual employments, and engage in holy services with much caution and circumspection, for fear of a miscarriage. It's not without cause that the Spirit adviseth us to keep our feet when we go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. The ear is the cunduit-pipe through which grace comes flowing in to the soul, and therefore should be kept open, which cannot be done whilst the eye is shut.  
My design is to apply the smarting eyesalve of the Spirit, that so the peccant and concerned may be cured of the wont winking of their eyes.  
The Subject in hand seems to be ordinary, and to have little of sublimity in it. But when I considered that every Pew almost hath its Eutychus; and that our Congregations do generally abound with lukewarm Laodiceans, and are little better (many of them) than so many Consorts of snoring Sleepers, which make sweet Music in the Devil's ears, whose design doubtless in men's present snorting is their future howling; I thought it my duty, as a Watchman, to do something that might awaken. I am willing to stir up and startle those, who whilst they should be smiting on their thighs, and laying their hands upon their hearts, are in a yawning posture, and rubbing their eyes, being possessed with a confused stupor; and it's a pretty while ere they can recover themselves, and understand where they are, and what about. I wish this small Treatise may prove a mote at least in the eye of the sleepy Hearer, and make it water, which is the way to be more watchful. Christian Reader, be a diligent Hearer, and I have my end, who desire to approve myself  
Thy faithful Monitor and Soul-Friend, Joseph Eyres.   

THE Church-Sleeper Awakened.  ACT. 20.9. And there sat in a window a certain young man, named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep, and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third Loft, and was taken up dead. 
THE Apostle Paul, after much toilsome travel, and various agitations is now at Troas, a City in the lesser Asia; where not having long time to tarry, (for he made it his design (if possible) to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost; and much ground was to be trod, and many places to be passed through, and something for the furtherance of the Gospel, to be dispatched in those places, ere he could get thither) he is resolved to do as much good as he can in a little time.  
We may not conceive him, idle any day; but surely on the Lord's day he was more than ordinarily diligent and industrious.  
The Disciples, or the owners of the way of the Christian Religion, being on the First Day of the Week met together in order to the hearing of the Word, and partaking of the Ordinance of the Supper, Paul continued his discourse until midnight, being hereunto encouraged and urged: 1. By the people's raised and unwearied attention. 2. By his own resolution to departed on the morrow, ver. 7.  
In these Primitive Times the Lord was wont to accompany the word of his mouth with the wonderful works of his hand; witness the many Miracles then effected, whereby the Lord would, 1. Convince Aliens. 2. Confirm Disciples, to whom such props were of great advantage, because the Doctrine embraced was,  

1. Novel, and therefore attended with squinteyed suspicions.  
2. Contrary to carnal reason, and therefore invaded with puzzling Objections.  
3. Destructive to the interests of the flesh, and therefore assaulted with a keen and desperate opposition, not only from without, but also from within.   
A considerable, and seasonable Miracle was this in the Verse succeeding the Text, of which Paul was the moral cause or instrument: Eutychus the recipient Subject, who whilst asleep stands in need of a bed; and being now dead, is fit for nothing but the grave. But the Lord had mercy on him, and did not only awaken but revive.  
This young man was quite tired out with Paul's protracted, and uninterrupted discourse; which being spun out to an unexpected length, deep sleep seizes on him, and he falls from such an height, that there remains nought else of the man, but a breathless trunk.  
There is no reason why we should bitterly inveigh against him, under the notion of a lazy Lozel, and muddy headed Disciple; for he sought not out a blind nook, and obscure corner, wherein unobservedly to take a nap, and by this means gratify the flesh; only through the infirmity of the flesh he is overcome. However, he is not wholly to be excused. The activity of grace must oppose and make head against the inclinations of nature: and doubtless had he not been wanting unto himself, he might have been enabled to hold up his head as well as others: at least, he might have prevented a total overwhelming and succumbing under this drowsy distemper. The Point that I would hence observe, is this:  
Doct. Sleeping in Church-Assemblies is a great sin, and of dangerous consequence.  
Many are men's miscarriages about the word. 
Heb. 10.25.  Some forsake the assembling of themselves together, and turn their backs upon the Ordinances, as if they were not worth the attending on: 
Ezek. 33.21.  Others indeed come as the people cometh, and with their lips they show much love; 
Esay 29.13.  They draw nigh unto God with their mouths, and honour him with their lips, so that the address seems to be accompanied with a flaming affection, and a deep devotion but their hearts are far from him, going after their covetousness; there is some base lust or other doted on, and cockered with wantonest indulgence, notwithstanding the clear convictions of the word, and their own professed subjection to it: Others again entertain the word with a slighting unbelief, 
Jer. 44.16.  peevish contradictions, and a desperate, declared resolution, not to stoop to its authority, and yield obedience to its commands. But it is the sleepy Hearer, whom I have to deal with at this time, and against whom I must spend some arrows, and discharge some cannons to awaken him. In the prosecution of the Point in hand, I shall only do these two things. 1. I shall propose several considerations by way of dissuasion from the sin, and provocation to the contrary practice. 2. I shall propose several directions by way of remedy and prevention.  
The considerations are these that follow.  
1. Well weigh with yourselves in whose presence you are. First, you are in the presence of God, who though he be from no place excluded, yet surely he is in the Assemblies of the Saints especially present. Exod. 20.24. In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. In acts of worship we are said to draw nigh him, Lev 10.2.  
There are several things in God which bespeak your attention.  
1. His transcendent excellency, and incomprehensible greatness: The presence of Majesty doth awaken meanness, and keeps all the faculties intent upon so furpassing an Object. If the awe and dread of an infinite, and all-glorious Being were upon us, it would not only somewhat affect, but even affright, and cause you to lay aside all deadness and drowsiness of spirit. Me thinks the brightness and splendour of that royal throne before which you present yourselves, and lie prostrate, should awaken you even to astonishment and consternation, and keep your eyes open beyond all possibility of putting them together.  
2. His Omniscience: Though you sleep, yet God doth not so much as slumber; though your eyes be shut, yet his are not: Though you sneak behind a pillar, or sink down to the bottom of the Pew, yet you are still in his eye. The Lord is in his holy Temple, the Lords throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, and his eyelids try the children of men, Psal. 11.4. He beholds the frame of your souls, and takes exact notice of the posture of your bodies. What servant would dare to sleep, whilsth is Master stands by and looks on? One sleepy Hearer cannot scape God's observation in the most condensed and crowded Congregation.  
3. His Holiness, whereby he must needs be highly displeased with the undecent and unbeseeming behaviour of those who are engaged in his worship. The sleepy Hearer is a mote in Gods bright eye, and very offensive to his sight.  
4. His Justice, which being awakened by his holiness, is wont to make deep dints and impressions of revenge upon the objects of his displeasure. Will a Lamb dare to sleep within the paw and reach of an enraged Lion?  
In the next place consider the ends, on the account of which you come into God's presence.  
1. To speak to him in Prayer. I have heard of some that have talked in their sleep: I doubt whether these drowsy dreamers we are speaking of, do or can pray in their sleep. A Prince would look upon it as an unsufferable affront, if a Subject should be found sleeping in the Presence-Chamher, when he should be presenting his Petition. Christ's Disciples were sleeping, when they should have been praying: now Christ bids them watch and pray; He knew full well, that if they did not watch, neither could they pray, Math. 26.41.  
2. To hear him speaking unto you by the Ministry of the Word. Our business is not only to pour out our complaints and requests into God's bosom, but likewise to receive answers and tidings of peace into ours. Now the sleepy Hearer stops up the passages through which the Lord is wont to convey his grace into the soul. I hope you are not of the opinion, that the Lord now speaks to his people by dreams, and that therefore there is no need of a waking attention. Thus you see how the intercourse betwixt God, and sleepy souls is interrupted and dammed up. Surely that must needs be a very great sin, that doth obstruct duty, and renders the Ordinances of God frustraneous and ineffectual. Secondly, you are in the presence of the Angels, who are wont to frequent the solemn and sacred Assemblies of the Saints, (which seems provable from 1 Cor. 11.10.) and to take notice of any disorders in sacred Conventions. You cannot make a wry mouth, laugh, fleer in the Minister's face, take a nap, be guilty of a lascivious glance, wanton look, or any other immodest behaviour, but it is done, not only in the presence of the God of heaven, but also in the presence of the Angels of heaven, who are strict observers of you, and have a watchful eye upon you. Besides, the Angels do with much wonder and delight make inspection into the profound Mysteries of the Gospel, 
Eph. 3.10.  manifested and made known to and by the Church, 1 Pet. 1.12. if you did so too, you would not be possessed with such a spirit of slumber as you are.  
Thirdly, you are in the presence of the Church. You are now in God's family, not your own. You may not take liberty to do that here, which you would make no scruple of to do at home. Any public Assembly, especially of Saints, and they engaged in a work of the highest nature, requires an awful and respective behaviour in such as do attend it. We may not offend any, much less the Church, 1 Cor. 10.32. We may not offend a single Saint, much less a Society of such.  
Besides, the Church is an orderly Society; all things in it, should be done decently and in order, 1 Cor. 14.10. Whilst one is singing, another should not be snoring.  
2. Consider, whose work it is that you are about. We are not only in God's presence, but are also employed in God's work. Now we are commanded to be fervent in spirit, whilst we serve the Lord, Rom. 12.11. It becomes not Gods servants of any, to be of a drowsy disposition; especially, when they should be diligent and intent upon their Master's business.  
It's hard if you cannot watch with Christ one hour. Christ did watch and pray in the Garden; the Disciples should have done so too, and have kept him company, Matth. 26.40.  
It was a pathetical expostulation that of Christ, Can you not watch with me one hour? q. d. If any of your Friends and near Relations were pained in body, and perplexed in mind, if they lay under the thousandth part of that agony and anguish of spirit that I lie under, you would have watched with them, and why then can you not watch with me? Yea, you would have watched all night with them until the dawning of the day, and is it possible that you can not watch with me one hour! I could pray for you in a Mountain, and cannot you pray with me in a Garden! I could spend a great part of the night in prayer for you, and can you not spend an hour of the night in prayer with me! Me thinks it should not be such a tiresome task and intolerable.  
The service of God doth deservedly require the utmost ardour and intenseness of spirit; the most elevated, enlarged, inflamed affections, that creatures are capable of.  
Whatsoever our hand findeth to do, especially in matters spiritual, should be done with all our might.  
3. The work that you are employed about, is of loftiest consequence, and concernment. Your souls are concerned in it: Life and death are before you. We should hearken to the word of God, as for our lives, for it is our life, Deut. 32.46, 47. What a man doth for his life, he will do with the utmost vigour and vivacity.  
With what panting and pressing earnestness doth an almost famished and hungerbitten beggar cry for bread!  
With what awakening, heart-penetrating expressions doth a Prisoner at the bar plead for his life! Not a word passeth unobserved by him, he doth with much greediness of attention hearken to the Evidence of Witnesses, Verdict of the Jury, Sentence of the Judge; and no wonder, for his life lies at the stake. He must be either acquitted and live, or else condemned and die.  
You who are here this day, must be tried by that word which you hear; by it your eternal estates and conditions must be cast. Now, whose ears would not be tickled with extraordinary delight at the hearing of the promises of life! and whose ears would not glow and tingle at the denunciations and threaten of eternal death! But the mischief on it is, the Church-Sleeper is like the Smith's dog, whom neither the hammers above him, nor the sparks of fire falling round about him, can awaken.  
4. You are not wont to sleep whilst you are about your own work. You rise up early, and sit up late, and do with much eagerness and unweariedness prosecute your own affairs. The Husbandman doth not sleep with his Plough in his hand; neither doth the Pilot sleep, whilst he is at the helm, guiding the Ship.  
Though you sleep in the Church, yet you do not sleep in the shop, whilst you have any thing to do, and customers to attend. How contentedly will you refrain from eating, drinking, sleeping all the day long, nay and a great part of the night too, provided the merry penny may be coming in thewhiles.  
You can sit chatting and discoursing with your Friends many hours, and it's very late many times ere you can part: but when you come into God's presence to enjoy fellowship and communion with him, you are nodding presently, and there you sit like so many liveless logs and senseless statues.  
I have heard of feasts that have lasted four or five hours; but hardly of any Guests that were sleeping whilst others were eating. But when people come to feast with God, to make a meal upon an Ordinance, they cannot hold open their eyes for their hearts.  
You are not wont to sleep whilst the natural glass is before you; but when the pure crystal glass of the Law is by the Minister held forth unto you, and set before you, (as loath belike to behold what manner of persons you are) you wink with the eye.  
5. Wicked men do not sleep whilst they are about the Devil's work. If Judas have a treacherous plot in hand, out of doors he will, though in the night, and put his black guard in order: a soft downy pillow is no place for his working contriving head: Being hurried and harassed by the Devil, he cannot by the darkness and silence of the night be flattered into the least slumber.  
The eye that is full of adultery, doth not sleep in the Congregation, but is continually roving about to find out objects for a foul and frothy fancy to work upon; and being found out, they are gazed on with much greediness and delight. The Adulterer will be waking, and walking abroad in the dark and black night, that so he may give his Drab a meeting, Prov. 7.9.  
Ahab lies tossing and tumbling upon his bed, and cannot take any rest, until he be possessed of Naboths Vineyard, 1 King. 21.4. And Amnon is in little better plight till he have his will on his Sister Tamar, 2 Sam. 13.2.  
How usual a thing is it for the Devil's Imps, I mean the roaring Ruffians, and Bacchanalian Roisters of the times, to spend whole days and nights in quaffing, carousing, gaming, etc. They have not the least lust to sleep in the midst of so much mirth, Music, and madness. With what whickering attention do they hearken to a roguish Fiddler that will sing them a sordid and filthy Song! Any Music keeps them waking, a midnight Mask, or paltry Poppet-play, how doth it affect, and make men dance an unwearied attendance, who yet are no more affected with the admirable contrivance, and sublime discoveries of the Gospel, than so many stocks and stones, save the Music of the Temple!  
6. It's a sin that is mightily promoted by the Devil  
He knows of what fatal consequence it is unto his kingdom, for people to hearken unto the word of life, which is as an hammer to knock off the bolts from the galled feet of his chained Captives: and therefore he endeavours by all ways and means imaginable to distract, divert, and take you off from the present work and business that is before you. He will be sure to sit very heavy on your eyelids, and close them if possible. The Prince of darkness startles at the approach of light, and therefore will be sure to draw the curtain, and shut the window to keep it out. The nodding head leans on the Devil's bosom. The sleepy Hearer is rocked in the Devil's cradle, and dandled on the Devil's knee.  
7. A sleepy eye is a shrewd sign of a sleepy conscience, and a sottish insensibility of matters spiritual. A fat heart, a deaf ear, and a closed eye, go hand in hand, Esa. 6.10. A waking conscience is usually attended with a watchful eye. They who work out their salvation with fear and trembling, will look about them.  
8. You may outsleep that truth wherein you are nearly concerned, and which if attended to, might prove successfully instrumental for your conversion, consolation.  
There is no one truth to be slighted, disregarded; but surely those truths that reach your particular condition, should be entertained with exactest observation.  
You know not when that plaster will be spread and applied, that is most suitable to your sore. You know not at what time that medicine will be administered that is most likely to cure those spiritual maladies and distempers that you labour under, and therefore it's wisdom to be wary and watchful.  
Possibly there may be some way of wickedness, which you securely walk in; some necessary duty, which you live in the neglect of; some griezly temptation, with which you are assaulted: now if you should be sleeping, when these things are pathetically and powerfully spoken to, you may still live in the practice of that sin, in the neglect of that duty; and be overwhelmed with that temptation to your ruin.  
9 This may be the last Sermon that ever you may hear; and I am confident, could you be assured of it, that it would be so, it would mightily startle.  
There will be such a thing as the last prayer that ever you shall put up; the last Chapter that you shall read; the last Sermon that you shall hear: it behoves you therefore with utmost industry to improve the present opportunity: Harken to the voice of God whilst it is called to day; you do not know whether ever you may hear that voice again behind you, saying unto you, This is the way, walk in it, shut not your eyes against the light that now shines, for you do not know whether ever your eyes may again behold a rising sun, and dispersed beams.  
10. The Lord may take you away in your sleep. The instance of this young man in the Text (one would think) should make you tremble. You that come alive into the Congregation, may be carried out dead. You that do not attentively hearken to what the Minister hath to say unto you, may be suddenly struck dead in the place, snatched out of your seats, dragged to Christ's Tribunal, and there constrained to hearken unto what the great Judge of heaven and earth hath to say unto you, who will speak in such language, and in such a tone, as will make your souls to shake and shiver. It's more dreadful to die whilst asleep in God's house, than to die whilst asleep in your own.  
11. There is no sleeping in hell. There will not be the least minutes rest taken to eternity. The smoke of wicked men's torment ascendeth up for ever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, Rev. 14.11. You that can so confidently sleep in the Church, shall not be able to sleep in the fiery lake: The extremity of torment, the continual gnawing of the never dying worm, and the hideous howl of Devils, and fellow-damned wights, will keep you waking in spite of your hearts.  
How welcome would a few hours sleep be to those, who are sweeting and sweltering in seaverish flames, and for many nights together have been full of toss to and fro until the dawning of the day? But O! how transcendently and surpassingly welcome would a minute's rest and repose be to those, who for millions of years have been roasting and roaring in the everlasting flames? But alas! it cannot be. Who but a fool and a mad man would for a little present sinful ease and rest, plunge himself into an intolerable, restless state and condition that knows no end! If this prove not an awakening consideration, I know not what will.  
12. There is no sleeping in heaven. That which is the misery of the damned, is the happiness of the saved. Rev. 4.8. They rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. The Angels do not want sleep; neither shall the Saints when they are translated to the upper Patadise. Whilst we are in this animal state, nature cannot bear up under continued watch, refreshing, and rest. Christ himself did not spend all his days in acts of immediate worship, he consumed not every night in prayer and holy meditations: We read as of his eating and drinking, so of his sleeping. But when these natural Bodies shall be raised spiritual Bodies, the sublime employment of eternal Hallelujahs will not tyre, or cause in us the least inclination to a drowsy despondency. It should be our desire and endeavour to serve God here, as Saints and Angels serve him in heaven, without weariness and deadness.  
Having thus dispatched the considerations by way of motive, I now come unto the directions by way of remedy and prevention of this sinful distemper declared against.  
1. Set yourselves as in God's presence. Labour to see him by the eye of Faith, who is invisible to the eye of sense. Being not ware before whom we are, and with whom we have to do, we are the more easily overtaken.  
If in the Congregation, we were in the presence, and close by the side of earthly majesty, and were surrounded and observed by Princes and Nobles, I dare say, there would be such an awe upon us, that we should not dare to sleep, or be guilty of the least incivility and undecency of deportment. O then, why doth not the approach and presence of the God of glory, before whom the Devils tremble, ble, and the Angel's veil, not daring to behold with unmasked faces, work in us far deeper impressions of awefulness, and engage us to the utmost attention and watchfulness.  
The truth of it is, God is not minded, and hence it is that his work is so slightly slubbered over.  
If God were in our eye, our eyes, ears, hearts, would all be open to attend and entertain him.  
2. Bring your Bibles with you; and that not for a vain show, and ostentation, to be taken notice of for a pious devout respect to sacred Writ; but keep pace with the Minister, whilst he reads the Word; and turn to those Texts of Scripture that he quotes. If this laudable course were generally and duly observed, Truths delivered would better be remembered, and the unhandsome inconvenience of sleeping in Church Assemblies would be prevented.  
It's reported of the Scots, by those who have been present at their Assemblies, that when the Preacher names a place of Scripture, the people presently and nimbly turn to it, so that there is heard in the Congregation a rushing noise or sound, like the fluttering of a mighty flock of birds, that are hastily rising, and getting upon the wing.  
But many may say unto me, Alas Sir! woe and alas! what shall we do? we for our parts can not read a word: O! how willingly would we make use of the Bible both in public, and in private, provided we were book-learned as others are! And cannot you read indeed? the more to blame are those who have had the charge and care of your education: and the more to blame yourselves, this ignorance of yours being possibly the product of a lazy neglect, and lothness to take pains.  
And here now, because 'tis seasonable, let me lay a strict charge, and severe injunction on Parents especially, and Masters of Families, to provide for the instruction of their children, and servants, that so they may be able to discern a difference betwixt a Bible, and a Block, not only by the sh●pe and external figure, but also by the internal and comfortable contents.  
3. Be exhorted to write Sermon-Notes, you that can; and you that cannot, learn to do it. It prevents not only a sleeping eye, but a wand'ring eye.  
It has been my observation of some, that whensoever they have omitted taking notes, they have been as sure to sleep, as if high noon were midnight, and their Pew a soft bed. Flatter not yourselves with a vain conceit, that your extraordinary, and almost invincible proneness to sleep, by reason of your natural temper, shall hold you excused, so long as you obstinately refuse to make use of Bible and Pen, by which this so great a mischief might undoubtedly be be prevented. I hope you do not count it a disparagement and undervaluing to you to take notes after the Minister? King Edward the Sixth did not; and to peruse them, and meditate on them afterwards, for the fixing and engraving of truth in his mind, and memory.  
4. Have you not houses of your own? there you may sleep with less scandal, and inconvenience to yourselves, and others. If there be no no remedy but you must needs take a nap in the day time (which some can hardly refrain, being thereto necessitated by a continued custom) it's better you should do it in private, then in public.  
But because men are too prone to gratify the flesh, and indulge the ease of the outward man, I shall entreat you to be very spare, and temperate, and allow yourselves as little liberty as may be. Far be it from you, that you should be of the number of those Swine, rather than Saints; those Hogs rather than Christians, who lie grunting, yawning, stretching in their beds the forenoon of the Sabbath, and are hardly up and dressed by dinner time: or of the number of those sordid slow bellies, who are wont to reserve the afternoon of the Lords day for rest, and a lazy retirement.  
5. Principiis obsta, stop the beginnings. When you perceive in yourselves an inclination to nod, and that a soft slumber gins to seize upon you, presently start up as one astonished at the apprehension of some grand approaching evil; stand upon your guard, and keep the encroaching enemy at a distance.  
6. Feed sparingly, especially on the Lord's day. Great Eaters are usually great Sleepers. From an over full stomach ascend obnubilating fumes, which oppress the brain, and lock up the passages of the spirits, and thereby dispose to sleep. Where the heart is overcharged with drunkenness and excess, it produceth sadness, searedness, stupidity, blockishness, inadvertency, forgetfulness, dulness in duty, and a supine negligence in soul-concernments. They that fast much, can watch best. Hence sobriety, and watchfulness are joined together. 1 Pet. 5.8. Be sober, be vigilant.  
7. Let not sorrow too much seize upon you, and prevail over you; it's of a stupifying, and besotting nature: the Disciples in the Garden found it so. Luk. 22.45. Grief contracts the heart, and hinders the egress of spirits to the several Organs in which they move; yea it exhausts the spirits, and hinders concoction, so that gross and black vapours invade the brain, which are the cause of sleep. Gerherd in his Harmony is of the opinion, that Jonah's profound sleep in the side of the Ship was occasioned by grief, he knowing full well that for his flying from the presence of the Lord, the tempest was raised, and the Ship endangered.  
8. Take heed of a lolling, and lazy posture of body; it argues irreverence, and doth dispose to drowsiness. Standing I would commend as a more watchful posture, and to be preferred before sitting, especially in Prayer. They that bow down their heads, and rest them upon their hands, will not long be awake.  
9 Let your eye be much upon the Minister. It's said of Christ's Hearers, Luk. 4.20. That their eyes were fastened on him. A good help against distractions. 
Trap in loc.  Our hearts are fickle and fugitive, if not hard held to it. The sight of the eye affects the heart. It's the Prisoners seeing, as well as hearing of the Judge, that makes him attentive to astonishment. When the heart is stirred, and awakened, the eye cannot easily be closed.  
10. Engage your neighbour that sits by you, to have a watchful eye upon you, and to pluck you by the sleeve, if occasion be. It's pity that any should be in danger of sleeping the sleep of death for want of a faithful friend to rouse up and awaken.  
If your Brother's Ox be fallen into a ditch, you will put to an helping hand, and pluck it out: and shall your Brother himself lie lolling and snoring in the Devil's lap, and you not so much as jog him by the elbow, and make him sensible of his danger?  
11. Betake yourselves to rest the night before, in good time. Sitting up late the Saturday nights doth wonderfully deadden, and indispose to the duties of the following day. Sleep in your beds, that you may not sleep in your Pews. Sleep in the night, that you may not sleep in the day.  
Coming home at midnight from dispatching businesses, visiting Friends; or which is worse, from drinking, gaming, revelling, puts the body and mind out of order, and is a bad preparative for the approaching Sabbath.  
13. Come to the word with expectation. Whensoever you attend upon the Ordinances, look for something, yea, for greater things from the hands of God. They are vigilant who are in a waiting posture. Beggars are not wont to sleep before the gates of those from whom they expect an alms. The eyes of servants look unto the hand of their Masters, and the eyes of a Maiden unto the hand of her Mistress, when some boon and bounty is expected, Psalm 123.2. If out of a clear sight, and deep sense of our own unworthiness, weakness, wretchedness, we came unto God for supply of wants, assistance in service, satisfaction in doubts, assurance of his love, solace in midst of sorrows, or the like, we should be more you're, and full of life in managing our addresses than we are.  
14. Pray hard unto God, and be very importunate with him:  
1. That he would chain up Satan, and rebuke the Tempter, who sneakingly, and maliciously haunts the Assembles of the Saints, as a sligh observer, and busy disturber, standing at their right hands ready to resist them.  
2. That he would affect your hearts with truths delivered. Stirring affections are attended with a sharp attention. Men do not look upon themselves as highly concerned in the commands, promises, menaces of the word, and hence ariseth that listless, and sluggish frame that is upon them.  
If with Peter's Hearers, we had the keen arrow of conviction sticking fast in our sides, and making us to blush, and bleed, the floodgates of our eyes would be open, for swelling streams of penitential tears to come gushing out amain; and in stead of sleeping and snoring, there would be sighing, sobbing, lamenting, moan-making, smiting on the thigh, and curious enquiring after a remedy for this malady. On the other side, if at the hearing of the word the Spirit should be pleased to come in and breath upon us with a fair and fresh gale of comfort; if the love of God should be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost; if some bright beam of heavenly light should be darted into the inner man after a dark, dismal, stormy, tempestuous night of temptation, desertion, disconsolation, dejection, it would undoubtedly scatter those clouds of sleep and security that are wont to hang upon our dull and depressed brows. A warmed heart is a waking heart. Sorrow dulls the eye, but joy makes it lively, and sparkling,  
I have read of a gracious woman, 
Mr. Clarks Mirror. pag. 508.  who at the Supper-Ordinance, being abundantly refreshed with the joys of the Spirit, got home (as she professed) she knew not how; and for the space of a fortnight these raptures and ravishing joys continued, and filled her mouth with Songs of praise, so that she could neither sleep, nor eat more than she forced herself to do out of conscience of duty. It's impossible we should sleep with a full cup of consolation in our hands, and at our mouths.  
3. That he would bestow upon the Minister a quick and powerful delivery, which is wont to draw forth attention, and affection. A dull, heavy, unchearful delivery in the Minister, doth little better than invite a drowsy disrespect, and is attended with a careless and undecent oscitancy in the Hearers.  
15. If prone to miscarry in this kind, and to be oppressed with a spiritual lethargy, you shall do well to humble yourselves before God with fasting, and prayer: possibly this sleepy Devil will not go out, but in the use of such means, which do not enfeeble and render unfit for service, but rather strengthen, and exhilarate.  
FINIS.