A Call to the Unconverted

and yet can you now so much forget it? You shall then remember that you heard this Sermon, and that this day, from this place, you were remembered of these things: and perceive them matters a thousand times greater then either you or I could here conceive: and yet ⟨p. 57⟩shall they be now so much forgotten?

Beloved friends; if the Lord had not awakened me to believe and lay to heart these things my self, I should have remained in the dark and selfish state, and have perished for ever: but if he have truly made me sensible of them, it will constrain me to compassionate you, as well as my self: If your eyes were so far opened as to see Hell, and you saw your neighbours that were Unconverted dragged thither with hideous cries, though they were such as you accounted honest people on earth, and feared no such matter by themselves; such a sight would make you go home and think of it, and think again; and make you warn all about you as the damned worldling in Luke. 16.28. would have had his Brethren warned, lest they come to that place of torment. ⟨p. 58⟩Why, faith is a kind of sight; it is the eye of the soul; the Evidence of things aot seen: If I believe God, it is next to seeing: And therefore I beseech you excuse me, if I be half as earnest with you about these matters, as if I had seen them. If I must die to morrow, and it were in my power to come again from another world and tell you what I had seen, would you not be willing to hear me, and would you not believe, and regard what I should tell you? If I might preach one Sermon to you after I am dead, and have seen what is done in the world to come, would you not have me plainly speak the truth, and would you not crowd to hear me? and would you not lay it to heart? but this must not be; God hath his appointed way of teaching you by Scripture and Ministers: and he will not humour ⟨p. 59⟩