A Golden Chain

Fourthly, whereas there are many in every place, which have lived long in their sins, even from their cradle; some in wantonness, some in drunkenness, some in swearing, some in idleness, and such like: out of this place to all such there is a good lesson, namely that every one of them do now become new men, and repent of all their sins, for all their life past. For mark what Paul saith of the Jews which are cut off from Christ through unbelief, and have so continued in hardness of heart, and desperate malice against him, almost 16. hundred years:¹ If (saith he) they abide not still in unbelief, they may be grafted into their olive again: and his reason is this, because God is able to graft them in again. Even so though we have lived many years in sin, (and sure it is a dangerous and fearful case for a man to live 20.30. or 40. years under the power of the devil;) yet we must know that if we will now live a new life, forsake all our sins and turn to God, we may be received to grace, and be made a branch of the true olive, though we have borne the fruits of the wild olive all our life long. But some will object, that they have no hope of Gods favour, because they have been so grievous sinners, and continued in them so long. Ans. But know it, whosoever thou art, God is able to graft thee in; and if thou repent, he will receive thee to his love and favour. This must be observed of all, but especially of such as are old in years, and yet remain ignorant without knowledge; they must turn to the Lord by repentance: otherwise, if they continue still profane and impenitent, they must know this, that their damnation comes post hast to meet them, and they to it.

Fourthly, whereas there are many in euery place, which haue liued long in their sinnes, euen from their cradle; some in wantonnes, some in drunkennes, some in swearing, some in idlenesse, and such like: out of this place to all such there is a good lesson, namely that euery one of them doe nowe become new men, and repent of all their sinnes, for all their life past. For marke what Paul saith of the Iewes which are cutte off from Christ through vnbeleefe, and haue so continued in hardnesse of heart, and desperat malice against him, almost 16. hundreth yeares:¹ If (saith he) they abide not still in vnbeleefe, they may bee grafted into their oliue againe: and his reason is this, because God is able to graft them in againe. Euen so though wee haue liued many yeares in sinne, (and sure it is a daungerous and fearefull case for a man to liue 20.30. or 40. yeares vnder the power of the diuell;) yet wee must knowe that if wee will nowe liue a newe life, forsake all our sinnes and turne to God, wee may be receiued to grace, and be made a branch of the true oliue, though we haue borne the fruits of the wilde oliue all our life long. But some will obiect, that they haue no hope of Gods fauour, because they haue beene so grieuous sinners, and continued in them so long. Ans. But knowe it, whosoeuer thou art, God is able to graft thee in; and if thou repent, he will receiue thee to his loue and fauour. This must be obserued of all, but especially of such as are olde in yeares, and yet remaine ignorant without knowledge; they must turne to the Lord by repentance: otherwise, if they continue still profane and impenitent, they must knowe this, that their damnation comes post hast to meete them, and they to it.