A Golden Chain

If this be the misery wherewith the careless man is •ieged and compassed about every way, and that for his sins, why do men lie in the dead sleep of security? O! it stands them in hand to take up the voice of bitter lamentation, and for their offences to howl after the manner of dragons. If men could weep nothing but tears of blood for their sins, if they could die a thousand times in one day for very grief, they could never be grieved enough for their sins.

If this be the miserie wherewith the carelesse man is •ieged and compassed about euery way, and that for his sinnes, why doe men lie in the dead sleepe of securitie? O! it stands them in hand to take vp the voyce of bitter lamentation, and for their offences to howle after the manner of dragons. If men could weepe nothing but teares of blood for their sinnes, if they could die a thousand times in one day for very griefe, they could neuer be grieued enough for their sinnes.

The second motive to draw men to repentance is, the consideration of the wretched estate of an impenitent sinner in his death, which is nothing but the ^awages and allowance that he receives for his sin: and it is the very suburbs, or rather the gates of hell. S. Paul compares death to a Scorpion, who caries a sting in his tail, which is sin. Now then when impenitent and profane persons die, then comes this scorpion and gripes them with her legs, and stabs them at the heart with her sting. Wherefore the best thing is before death come, to use means to pull out the sting of death. And nothing will do it, but the blood of Christ: let men therefore break off their sins by repentance: let them come to the throne of grace, and cry; yea let them fill heaven and earth with cries for mercy. Oh! pray, pray for the pardon of thine own personal and particular sins. If thou obtain but one drop of Gods special mercy in Christ, all danger is past. For death hath lost his sting; and then a man without danger may put an ugly Serpent in his bosom.