Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

Guilt binds the sinner over unto the righteous judgement of God. Temporal Judgements are many times inflicted for this sin, and that not only on the profane ungodly world, but on the ⟨p. 204⟩Lords own servants. As this instance in my Text doth make to appear. Indeed we read of but one godly man in the Scripture, (viz. Eutychus the man whom my Text mentions) that did sleep at a Sermon, and what a memorable and awful death had he like to have suffered, because of this his sin? and yet a great deal more might be said to excuse him, then most of those that use to sleep at Sermons, can plead for themselves. For Pauls Sermon, at that time was very long; and it was not in the day but in the night; yea, at midnight, when men are naturally more inclined to sleep; yet when Eutychus thus circumstanced, gave way to temptation, so as to fall asleep, when he should have been hearkening to the word of God, he must be smitten with a sudden and a deadly blow; that as Jonathan said, 1 Sam. 14.43. I did but taste a little Honey, and lo, I must die. So this man, did but take a little sleep, a short nap whilst the Sermon was Preaching, and lo! he must die for it. And as for those that have been notorious sleepers at Sermons, indulging themselves in that iniquity, God oftentimes cuts them off, by sudden and awful strokes of his hand. Yea, and spiritual judgements are the bitter fruit of this sin. For this cause, the Lord in righteous Judgement doth blast his word to the Souls of men, that they are never converted nor saved thereby, but they become like unto Ezekiels Marishes and ⟨p. 205⟩Miry places, they are given unto salt and shall not be healed, Ezek. 47.11. They are smitten with that curse of spiritual and perpetual barrenness of soul. When men are so profane as to set themselves to sleep at Sermons, the Holy God is so provoked at them for the contempt of his Word, as to resolve and swear against them, that they shall never be converted, or receive any saving benefit thereby. And when this becometh a general prevailing iniquity amongst a professing people, the Lord is sometimes provoked to take away his Word from them. He calls home his Ambassadors, and brings a Famine of his word. When mercies slighted, God knoweth how to raise the price of them, and to make men know the worth of them, by the want thereof.