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

CHAP. VII. Undeniable Reasons for Repentance and speedy amendment, of those that have lived a fleshly and ungodly Life: By way of Exhortation.

CHAP. VII. Vndeniable Reasons for Repentance and speedy amendment, of those that have lived a fleshly and ungodly Life: By way of Exhortation.

§ 1. And now the Commands of God, the Love of my Country and the Church, the Love of Piety, true Prosperity and Peace, and the Love of Mankind, even of your own Souls and Bodies, do all command me to become once more an earnest suitor to the Youth of this Land, especially of London, who have hitherto miscarried, and lived a fleshly, sinful life. Thousands such as you are dead in sin, and past our warning, and past all hope and help for ever. Thousands that laughed at Judgment and Damnation, are now feeling that which they would not believe. By the great mercy of God it is not yet the case of you who read these words; but how soon it may be, if you are yet unsanctified, you little know: O that you knew what a mercy it is to be yet alive, and after so many sins and dangers, to ⟨p. 64⟩have one to warn you, and offer you Salvation, and to be yet in possibility, and in a state of hope: In the name of Christ I most earnestly entreat you, a little while try to use your reason, and use it seriously in retired, sober Consideration, till you have first well perused the whole course of your lives, and remembered what you have done and how: Till you have thought what you have got or lost by sinning, and why you did it, and whether it was justifiable reason which led you to it, and such as you will stand to in your sober thoughts, yea, such as you will stand to before God at last. Consider seriously what comes next, and whither you are going, and whether your life have fitted you for your journeys end, and how your ways will be reviewed ere long, and how they will appear to you, and taste at death, Judgment, and in the world to come. Hold on and think soberly a little while, what is in your Hearts, and what is their condition, what you most love, and what you hate, and whether God or sinful pleasure be dearer and more delightful to you, and how you stand affected and related to the World that you are very near. Sure Reason would be Reason if you would but use it, sure Light would come in, if you would not shut