A26872:18
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.
Suppose when you are hold and busy in your sin, that a messenger were but coming post from London to apprehend you, and take away your lives: though you saw him not, yet if you knew that he was coming, it would mar your mirth, and you would be thinking of the haste he makes, and hearkening when he knocked as your door: O that you could but see what haste death makes, though yet it have not overtaken you! No post so swift! No messenger more sure! As sure as the Sun will be with you in the morning, though it hath many thousands, and hundred thousand miles to go in the night; so sure will death be quickly with you, and then where is your sport and pleasure! then will you jest and brave it out! ⟨image 15⟩Then will you jeer at them that warned you? Then is it better to be a Believing Saint, or a sensual Worldling? And then whose shall all those things be that you have gathered? (Luke 12.19, 20, 21.) Do you not observe that days and weeks are quickly gone; and nights and mornings come apace and speedily succeed each other? You sleep; but your damnation slumbereth not: You linger; but your judgment this long time lingereth not: (2 Pet. 2.3, 4, 5.) to which you are reserved for punishment (2 Pet. 2.8, 9.) O that you were wise to understand this, and that you did consider your latter end! Deut. 32.29. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear the Call of God in this day of his salvation.
Suppose when you are hold and busie in your sin, that a messenger were but coming post from London to apprehend you, and take away your lives: though you saw him not, yet if you knew that he was coming, it would marr your mirth, and you would be thinking of the haste he makes, and hearkning when he knocked as your door: O that you could but see what haste death makes, though yet it have not overtaken you! No post so swift! No messenger more sure! As sure as the Sun will be with you in the morning, though it hath many thousands, and hundred thousand miles to go in the night; so sure will death be quickly with you, and then where is your sport and pleasure! then will you jest and brave it out!