Remains of that reverend and learned divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in…Remaines of that reverend and learned divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in…

The first thing is this, take the time and opportunity when grace is offered, that is, it will be ¹good for you to strike while the Iron is hot, ⟨p. 295⟩and grind while the wind blows, and sail when there is a fair gale; so it is good to follow the spirit in its motion: for as there is a time when the spirit is offered, so there is a time when the spirit may not be got, and therefore it is, that this time is so insisted upon so often in Hebr. 3. To day if ye will hear his voice, &c. that is, there is a time when God will not be found of us, though we would give a world to have but one motion of the spirit again, one moment of repentance, one offer of grace, but you shall not: well then, now you have the time and opportunity, that is, the day of salvation; I offer you Christ and salvation, and you may have him if you will but receive him, that is, if you will but suffer him to rule in your hearts, if you will but acknowledge him to be your Lord and King; you shall have him whatsoever thou art, or hast been for the time past; only if you will be a new man for the time to come: but if you will not receive Christ now, but refuse him, there shall a time come, when thou wouldest receive him, but then thou shalt not. Remember the five foolish Virgins, Matth. 25. They were shut out of the marriage chamber, and so mayest thou, if thou now refuse him.

The first thing is this, take the time and opportunitie when grace is offered, that is, it will bee ¹good for you to strike while the Iron is hot, ⟨p. 295⟩and grinde while the winde blowes, and saile when there is a faire gale; so it is good to follow the spirit in its motion: for as there is a time when the spirit is offered, so there is a time when the spirit may not be got, and therefore it is, that this time is so insisted upon so often in Hebr. 3. To day if yee will heare his voyce, &c. that is, there is a time when God will not be found of us, though wee would give a world to have but one motion of the spirit againe, one moment of repentance, one offer of grace, but you shall not: well then, now you have the time and opportunity, that is, the day of salvation; I offer you Christ and salvation, and you may have him if you will but receive him, that is, if you will but suffer him to rule in your hearts, if you will but acknowledge him to bee your Lord and King; you shall have him whatsoever thou art, or hast beene for the time past; onely if you will be a new man for the time to come: but if you will not receive Christ now, but refuse him, there shall a time come, when thou wouldest receive him, but then thou shalt not. Remember the five foolish Virgins,