But what shall I do for them that will not be gathered. I have called after them but they would not answer. I have charged them in thy name, but they would not hear. I have studied to speak persuasively to them, but I ⟨image 92⟩cannot prevail. Yea, I said I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain, yet I cannot give them over, much less may I give thee over. Lord persuade Japheth, to dwell in the tents of Shem. Lord compel them to come in, and lay the hands of mercy upon them, as thou didst on lingering Lot, and bring them forth, that they may escape for their lives, and not be consumed. Lord, I pray thee, open their eyes that they may see, and lay hold upon their hearts by thine omnipotent grace. Do thou turn them, and they shall be turned. O bring back the miserable captives, and suffer not the enemy of mankind to drive away the most of the flock before mine eyes, and to deride the fruitless endeavours of thy labourers, and boast over them, that he can do more with them, though he seek to ruin them, than all the beseechings, counsels, and charges of thy servants that seek to save them. Lord, if I could find out any thing that would pierce them, that would make its way into their hearts, thou knowest I would use it. But I have been many years pleading thy cause in vain. O let not these endeavours also be lost. O God, find out every ignorant, every profane sinner, every prayerless soul, and every prayerless family, and convince them of their miserable condition, while without thee in the world. Set thy image upon their souls, set up thy worship in their families. Let not pride, ignorance, or slothfulness, keep them in neglect of the means of knowledge. Let thine eyes be over the place of my desires for good, from one end of the year to the other end thereof. Let every house therein be a seminary of Religion, and let those that cast their eyes upon these lines, find thee sliding in by the secret influence of thy grace into their hearts, and irresistibly engaging them to do thy pleasure.
But what shall I do for them that will not be gathered. I have called after them but they would not answer. I have charged them in thy name, but they would not hear. I have studied to speak perswasively to them, but I ⟨image 92⟩cannot prevail. Yea, I said I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain, yet I cannot give them over, much less may I give thee over. Lord perswade Japhet, to dwell in the tents of Shem. Lord compel them to come in, and lay the hands of mercy upon them, as thou didst on lingring Lot, and bring them forth, that they may escape for their lives, and not be consumed. Lord, I pray thee, open their eyes that they may see, and lay hold upon their hearts by thine omnipotent grace. Do thou turn them, and they shall be turned. O bring back the miserable captives, and suffer not the enemy of mankind to drive away the most of the flock before mine eyes, and to deride the fruitless endeavours of thy labourers, and boast over them, that he can do more with them, though he seek to ruin them, than all the beseechings, counsels, and charges of thy servants that seek to save them. Lord, if I could find out any thing that would pierce them, that would make its way into their hearts, thou knowest I would use it. But I have been many years pleading thy cause in vain. O let not these endeavours also be lost. O God, find out every ignorant, every prophane sinner, every prayerless soul, and every prayerless family, and convince them of their miserable condition, while without thee in the world. Set thy image upon their souls, set up thy worship in their families. Let not pride, ignorance, or slothfulness, keep them in neglect of the means of knowledg. Let thine eyes be over the place of my desires for good, from one end of the year to the other end thereof. Let every house therein be a seminary of Religion, and let those that cast their eyes upon these lines, find thee sliding in by the secret influence of thy grvce into their hearts, and irresistibly engaging them to do thy pleasure.
