Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity,…

Qu. 17. I further ask you, Have you not some secret purposes hereafter to repent? If not, alas, how far are you from it? and how forlorn is your case? But if you have, Conscience is a Witness against you, that ⟨p. 78⟩you choose and live in that case and course which you know is worst: Were it not worst, you need not purpose to repent of it: And will you wilfully choose known evil, when the very nature of mans Will is to love good?

Qu. 18. And if you believe that the faithful are in a happier case than you, tell me, What hindereth yet but you may be like them, and yet be happy as well as they? Hath God put any exception against you in his word? Is not Mercy and Salvation proclaimed and offered to you as freely as to them? Did any thing make you so bad as you are, but your own choice and doing? And can any thing yet hinder you from pardon and Salvation, if you your selves were but truly willing? What if your Parents were bad, and bred you up amiss? God hath told you, in Ezek. 18. and 33. that if you will but do your own part yet, and take warning and avoid your Parents sin, and give up your selves unfeignedly to him, he will save you whatever your Parents were. What if Princes, or Lords, or learned men, should be your tempters by words or example? None of them can force you to one sin: God is greater and wiser than they, and more to be believed and obeyed; and your Salvation is not in ⟨p. 79⟩any of their power. What if your old companions tempt you? They can but tempt you; they cannot constrain you to any evil. All the Devils in Hell, or men on earth cannot damn you, no nor make you sinners, if you do it not your selves. Refuse not Christ, and he will not refuse you: And when he is willing, if you be but willing, truly willing to be saved from sin and misery, and to have Christ, Grace, and Glory in the use of the means which God hath appointed you, neither Earth nor Hell can hinder your Salvation: Who but your selves keep you from forsaking the Company, House, or Baits which have deceived you? Who but your selves keep you from lamenting your sin, and flying to Christ, and begging Mercy, and giving your selves to God? If you think that serious Christians are the happiest, refuse not to be such your selves. It will be your own doing, your own wilful obstinacy if you perish: But of this I have already said more in my Call to the Unconverted.