Oh how wilful will thy destruction be, if thou shouldst yet harden thy self in thy sinful state! But none of you can say, but you have had fair warning. Yet methinks I cannot tell how to leave you so. It is not enough to me to have delivered my own soul. What, shall I go away without my errand? Will none of you arise, and follow me? Have I been all this while speaking in the wind? Have I been charming the deaf adder, or allaying the tumbling Ocean with arguments? Do I speak to the trees or rocks, or to men? to the tombs and monuments of the dead, or to a living auditory? If you be men, and not senseless stocks, stand still, and consider whither you be going. If you have the reason and understanding of men, dare not run into the flames, and fall into hell with your eyes open: but bethink your selves, and set to the work of repentance. What, men, and yet run into the pit, when the very beasts will not be forced in! What, endowed with reason, and yet dally with death and hell, and the vengeance of the Almighty! Are men herein distinguished from the very brutes, that they have a foresight of, and a care to provide for, the things to come; and will you not hasten your escape from eternal torments? Oh show your selves men, and let reason prevail with you. Is it a reasonable thing for you to contend against the Lord your maker, Isaiah 45. 9. or to harden your selves against his word, Job 9. 4. as though the strength of Israel would lie? 1 Sam. 15. 29. Is it reasonable, that an understanding creature ⟨p. 83⟩should lose, yea live quite against, the very end of his being, and be as a broken pitcher, only fit for the dunghill? Is it tolerable, that the only thing in this world that God hath made capable of knowing his will, and bringing him glory, should yet live in ignorance of his maker, and be unserviceable to his use, yea should be engaged against him, and spit his venom in the face of his Creator? Hear O Heavens, and give ear O earth, and let the creatures without sense be judge, if this be reason that man, when God hath nourished and brought him up, should rebel against him. Isaiah 1. 2. Judge in your own selves: is it a reasonable undertaking, for briars and thorns, to set themselves in battle against the devouring fire? Isaiah 27. 4. or for the potsherd of the earth, to strive with his maker? If you will say, this is reason, surely the eye of reason is quite put out.
Oh how willful will thy destruction be, if thou shouldst yet harden thy self in thy sinful state! But none of you can say, but you have had fair warning. Yet methinks I cannot tell how to leave you so. It is not enough to me to have delivered my own soul. What, shall I go away without my errand? Will none of you arise, and follow me? Have I been all this while speaking in the wind? Have I been charming the deaf adder, or allaying the tumbling Ocean with arguments? Do I speak to the trees or rocks, or to men? to the tombs and monuments of the dead, or to a living auditory? If you be men, and not senseless stocks, stand still, and consider whither you be going. If you have the reason and understanding of men, dare not run into the flames, and fall into hell with your eyes open: but bethink your selves, and set to the work of repentance. What, men, and yet run into the pit, when the very beasts will not be forced in! What, endowed with reason, and yet dally with death and hell, and the vengeance of the Almighty! Are men herein distinguished from the very bruits, that they have a foresight of, and a care to provide for, the things to come; and will you not hasten your escape from eternal torments? Oh shew your selves men, and let reason prevail with you. Is it a reasonable thing for you to contend against the Lord your maker, Esay 45. 9. or to harden your selves against his word, Iob 9. 4. as though the strength of Israel would lie? 1 Sam. 15. 29. Is it reasonable, that an understanding creature ⟨p. 83⟩should lose, yea live quite against, the very end of his being, and be as a broken pitcher, only fit for the dunghil? Is it tolerable, that the only thing in this world that God hath made capable of knowing his will, and bringing him glory, should yet live in ignorance of his maker, and be unserviceable to his use, yea should be engaged against him, and spit his venom in the face of his Creatour? Hear O Heavens, and give ear O earth, and let the creatures without sense be judge, if this be reason that man, when God hath nourished and brought him up, should rebel against him. Esay 1. 2. Judge in your own selves: is it a reasonable undertaking, for briars and thorns, to set themselves in battel against the devouring fire? Esay 27. 4. or for the po•sheard of the earth, to strive with his maker? If you will say, this is reason, surely the eye of reason is quite put out.
