A Call to the Unconverted

If you will go to hell, what remedy! God here acquits himself ⟨p. 205⟩of your blood: it shall not lie on him if you be lost. A negligent Minister may draw it upon him; and those that encourage you, or hinder you not in sin, may draw it upon them; but be sure of it, it shall not lie upon God. Saith the Lord concerning his unprofitable Vineyard, Isaiah 5.1, 2, 3, 4. [Judge I pray you betwixt me and my Vineyard: What could have been done more to my Vineyard, that I have not done in it? When he had planted it in a fruitful soil, and fenced it, and gathered out the stones, and planted it with the choicest Vine: What should he have done more to it? He hath made you men, and endued you with Reason; he hath furnished you with all external necessaries; all creatures are at your service. He hath given you a righteous perfect Law. When you had broke it, and undone your ⟨p. 206⟩selves, he had pity on you, and sent his Son by a miracle of condescending mercy to die for you, and be a sacrifice for your sins, and he was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. The Lord Jesus hath made you a deed of gift of himself, and eternal life with him, on the condition you will but accept it and return. He hath on this reasonable condition offered you the free pardon of all your sins; he hath written this in his Word, and sealed it by his Spirit, and sent it you by his Ministers; they have made the offer to you an hundred and an hundred times, and called you to accept it, and to turn to God. They have in his name entreated you, and reasoned the case with you, and answered all your frivolous objections. He hath long waited on you, and stayed your leisure, and suffered you to abuse him to his ⟨p. 207⟩face. He hath mercifully sustained you in the midst of your sin; he hath compassed you about with all sorts of mercies: He hath also intermixed afflictions to mind you of you folly, and call you to your wits; And his spirit hath been often striving with your hearts, and saying there, [Turn sinner, Turn to him that calleth thee; Whither art thou going; What art thou doing? Dost thou know what will be the end? How long wilt thou hate thy friends, and love thine enemies? when wilt thou let go all and Turn, and deliver up thy self to God, and give thy Redeemer the possession of thy soul? When shall it once be?] These pleadings have been used with thee.