Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

5. Think what others, beside your selves, lose by your thus deferring your repentance. Every Saint is a public Good; the World is the better for him: But while you go on in sin, and never think of repenting till the last, who is the better for you? nay, who are not losers by you? Angels in Heaven lose the joy they might have had in your Conversion; Ministers lose the comfort of being instrumental in it, your Families lose the Instruction they might have had of you, your Neighbours the provocation they might have had to holiness by your example; the wicked lose the convictions they might have been brought under by the power of holiness appearing in your conversation, Saints the comfort and refreshment they might have had by your Society, Discourse, Experience, and all generally, what good they might have got by your Prayers; and, that which is more than all, doth not God lose the glory you might have given him, had that time, that life and strength been spent in his Service, which you have spent upon your Lusts!

5. Think what others, beside your selves, lose by your thus deferring your repentance. Every Saint is a publick Good; the World is the better for him: But while you go on in sin, and never think of repenting till the last, who is the better for you? nay, who are not losers by you? Angels in Heaven lose the joy they might have had in your Conversion; Ministers lose the comfort of being instrumental in it, your Families lose the Instruction they might have had of you, your Neighbours the provocation they might have had to holiness by your example; the wicked lose the convictions they might have been brought under by the power of holiness appearing in your conversation, Saints the comfort and refreshment they might have had by your Society, Discourse, Experience, and all generally, what good they might have got by your Prayers; and, that which is more than all, doth not God lose the glory you might have given him, had that time, that life and strength been spent in his Service, which you have spent upon your Lusts!

I need not tell you over again what you hazard; even your never repenting at all; your being forsaken of God, given up to the Devil and your Lusts, and so having your hearts hardened, your minds blinded, your Consciences seared, and your Souls in conclusion damned. If it be not so, no thanks to your selves. If God be merciful to you (and no body in this World knows whether he will or not) yet you do your part to bereave your selves of that mercy, and plunge your selves into the Abyss of eternal misery.