A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

The third sign of carnal security, is the delaying of our repentance, thinking that we can repent when we list, and that we may do it time enough in our old age, or on our sick beds. For as the true fear of God moveth us continually to renew our repentance, as we renew our sins; and still to keep our Accounts even, that we may always be in readiness against that unknown and uncertain Day, when as we shall be called to render them before Gods tribunal Seat of Judgement; so security maketh us to carry our selves, like worldly men, whose estate, by reason of debt and danger, is forlorn and desperate; who never look upon their books of Accounts to sum them up; yea, rather keep no account at all, because they are resolved to take their pleasure securely, and to riot it out as long as they may, and never cross their delights, nor check their joys, by calling to their mind and remembrance their after reckonings. Now what can argue greater security, then through our want of consideration to mistake our repentance, as a thing being in our own power, and therefore at our command whensoever we call for it, whereas it is the free gift of God, and therefore to be received with all care and diligence, whilst the acceptable Time and Day of salvation lasteth, wherein the Lord graciously offereth this gift unto us? What can more convince us that our hearts are in this dead sleep, then carelessly to put off a thing of such importance as our repentance is, which concerneth us no less then our eternal Salvation or Damnation, unto after-times which are most uncertain, we having no assurance, no, not so much as of one minute? What showeth more evidently our careless recklessness, then