Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

2. Let those who make light of the Invitations of Grace, consider what will be the Issue of their Obstinacy. Within a little while Conscience will awaken the Remembrance of their careless Contempt of the Divine Mercy, and that will awaken Despair. To instruct such Persons, and make them afraid, that they may fly to the Sanctuary ⟨p. 347⟩from the Destroyer, let them consider,

(1.) This will render them inexcusable. Their Obduration and final Ruin will be of themselves. God is pleased to appeal to the Human Understanding, What could I do more for my Vineyard, that I have not done? His Works and his Words are declaratory of his Will, how pleasing the Repentance and Life of Sinners is to him. He has prepared a Saviour and Salvation, and offers them to lost Souls. In the Year of Jubilee, Liberty was proclaimed for all the Israelites who had been Servants; but if any one would not leave his Master, his Ear was bored, and he was a Servant for ever. Thus the acceptable Year of the Lord is proclaimed in the Gospel, a happy Freedom to Sinners by Jesus Christ: but those who are in love with their reigning Lusts, refuse this Freedom, and are condemned ⟨p. 348⟩to the worst Bondage for ever. God by his Authority commands them to repent and believe the Gospel: He invites them by the most gracious Promises to accept and receive them: he expresses the most tender Compassions towards perishing Sinners; Why will ye die? He reproaches their unaccountable Folly, How long ye simple ones will ye love. Simplicity? He urges them by terrible Threatenings, not to neglect his offered Grace. But they are deaf to his loudest Calls: if a Lust whispers from their Earthly Affections, they are presently moved. No Mercy will soften them, no Reproofs will reform them; the richest Means of Grace are lost, and they prodigally perish. Now how justly do they fall under the condemning Sentence of the Law, who slight the Mercy of the Gospel? God takes no Pleasure in the Death of a Sinner, but they take Pleasure in their