An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners

O Lord, fail me not now at my last attempts. If any soul hath read hitherto, and be yet untouched, now Lord fasten in him, and do thy work: Now take him by the heart, overcome him, persuade him, till he say, Thou hast prevailed, for thou wast stronger than I. Lord, didst not thou make me a fisher of men? And have I toiled all this while, and caught nothing? Alas, that I should have spent my strength for nought! And now I am casting my last: Lord Jesus, stand thou upon the shore, and direct, how, and where I shall spread my net; and let me so enclose with arguments the souls I seek for, that they may not be able to get out. Now Lord for a multitude of souls! now for a full draught! O Lord God, remember me I pray thee, and strengthen me this once, O God.

O Lord, fail me not now at my last attempts. If any soul hath read hitherto, and be yet untouched, now Lord fasten in him, and do thy work: Now take him by the heart, overcome him, perswade him, till he say, Thou hast prevailed, for thou wast stronger than I. Lord, didst not thou make me a fisher of men? And have I toyled all this while, and caught nothing? Alas, that I should have spent my strength for nought! And now I am casting my last: Lord Iesus, stand thou upon the shore, and direct, how, and where I shall spread my net; and let me so enclose with arguments the souls I seek for, that they may not be able to get out. Now Lord for a multitude of souls! now for a full draught! O Lord God, remember me I pray thee, and strengthen me this once, O God.

But I turn me unto you.

Men, and Brethren, Heaven and earth do call upon you, yea hell it self doth preach the doctrine of repentance unto you. The Angels of the Churches travel with you, Gal. 4. 19. the Angels of Heaven wait for you, for your repenting and turning unto God. O sinner, why should the devils make merry with thee? Why shouldst thou be a morsel for that devouring Leviathan? Why should harpies and hellhounds tear thee, and make a feast upon thee, and when they have got thee into the snare, and have fastened their talons in thee, laugh at thy destruction, and deride thy misery, and sport themselves with thy damnable folly? This must be thy case, except thou turn. And were it not better thou shouldst be a joy to Angels, than a laughing-stock and sport for devils? Verily if thou wouldst but come in, the Heavenly Host would take up their anthems, and sing, Glory be to God in the highest; the morning Stars would sing together, and all the sons of God shout for joy, and celebrate this new creation as they did the first. Thy repentance would as it were make holy-day in heaven, and the glorious spirits would rejoice, in that there is a new brother added to their society, Re. 22. 9. another heir born to their Lord and the lost son received safe and sound. The true penitents tears are indeed the wine that cheereth, both God, and man.