A26872:163
A Call to the Unconverted
A call to the unconverted to turn and live and accept of mercy while mercy may be had as ever they would find mercy in the day of their extremity from the living God / by his unworthy servant, Richard Baxter ; to be read in families where any are unconverted.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But God hath yet done none of this; but hath patiently forborne thee, and mercifully upheld thee; and given thee that breath which ⟨p. 97⟩thou didst breath out against him, and given those Mercies which thou didst sacrifice to thy flesh, and afforded thee that provision, which thou spentest to satisfy thy greedy throat; he gave thee every minute of that time, which thou didst waste in idleness, or drunkenness, or worldliness: and doth not all this Patience and Mercy show that he desired not thy damnation? Can the candle burn without the oil? Can your houses stand without the earth to bear them? As well as you can live an hour without the support of God. And why did he so long support thy life, but to see when thou wouldst bethink thee of the folly of thy ways, and return and live? Will any man purposely put arms into his enemies hands to resist him? or hold the Candle to a Murderer that is killing his children, or to an idle servant that ⟨p. 98⟩Plays or sleeps the while. Surely it is to see whether thou wilt at last Return and Live, that God hath so long waited on thee.
But God hath yet done none of this; but hath patiently forborn thee, and mercifully upheld thee; and given thee that breath which ⟨p. 97⟩thou didst breath out against him, and given those Mercies which thou didst sacrifice to thy flesh, and afforded thee that provision, which thou spentest to satisfie thy greedy throat; he gave thee every minute of that time, which thou didst waste in idleness, or drunkenness, or worldliness: and doth not all this Patience and Mercy shew that he desired not thy damnation? Can the candle burn without the oyl? Can your houses stand without the earth to bear them? As well as you can live an hour without the support of God. And why did he so long support thy life, but to see when thou wouldst bethink thee of the folly of thy waies, and return and live? Will any man purposely put arms into his enemies hands to resist him? or hold the Candle to a Murderer that is killing his children, or to an idle servant that ⟨p. 98⟩Plaies or sleeps the while. Surely it is to see whether thou wilt at last Return and Live, that God hath so long waited on thee.