We tell them of their fall, their sin and misery; of the Redeemer, and the sure and free salvation, which they may have if they will but come to him. But, alas, we cannot make them believe that they are so sick as to have so much need of the Physician: and that they are dead, and have need of a new creation, as to the inclinations of their hearts, and the end and bent and business of their lives. We are sent to tender them the mercy of Christ, but we cannot make them believe that they are miserable. We are sent to offer them the riches, and eye self, and white raiment of the Gospel: but we cannot make them know that they are poor, and blind, and naked: We are sent to call them to Repent and Turn that they may be saved; and we cannot make them know that they are so far out of the way as to need a change of heart and life. Here they sit before us, and we look on them with pity, and know not how to help them. We look on them and think, alas, poor souls, you little see what death will quickly make you see. You will then see that there is no salvation, by all the blood and merits of Christ for any but the sanctified; but O that we could now but make you understand it. We look on them with ⟨p. 231⟩compassion, and think, Alas, poor souls, as easily and quietly as you sit here, a change is near. It will be thus with you but a little while, and where will you be next? We know as sure as the word of God is true, that they must be converted and sanctified, or be lost for ever: and we cannot make them believe, but that the work is done already. The Lord knoweth, and our consciences witness to our shame, that we be not half so sensible of their misery, nor so compassionate towards them as we ought to be: but yet sometimes our hearts melt over them, and fain we would save them from the wrath to come; and we should have great hopes of the success, if we could but make them know their danger: It melts our hearts to look on them and think that they are so near damnation, and never like to scape it, till they know it, till they know that their corruption is so great, that nothing but the quickening spirit can recover them, and nothing less then to become new creatures will serve the turn: But if we would never so fain we cannot make them know it: O that we knew how to acquaint them with their case?
We tell them of their fall, their sin and misery; of the Redeemer, and the sure and free salvation, which they may have if they will but come to him. But, alas, we cannot make them believe that they are so sick as to have so much need of the Physicion: and that they are dead, and have need of a new creation, as to the inclinations of their hearts, and the end and bent and business of their lives. We are sent to tender them the mercy of Christ, but we cannot make them believe that they are miserable. We are sent to offer them the riches, and eye selve, and white rayment of the Gospel: but we cannot make them know that they are poor, and blind, and naked: We are sent to call them to Repent and Turn that they may be saved; and we cannot make them know that they are so far out of the way as to need a change of heart and life. Here they sit before us, and we look on them with pitty, and know not how to help them. We look on them and think, alas, poor souls, you little see what death will quickly make you see. You will then see that there is no salvation, by all the blood and merits of Christ for any but the sanctified; but O that we could now but make you understand it. We look on them with ⟨p. 231⟩compassion, and think, Alas, poor souls, as easily and quietly as you sit here, a change is neer. It will be thus with you but a little while, and where will you be next? We know as sure as the word of God is true, that they must be converted and sanctified, or be lost for ever: and we cannot make them believe, but that the work is done already. The Lord knoweth, and our consciences witness to our shame, that we be not half so sensible of their misery, nor so compassionate towards them as we ought to be: but yet sometimes our hearts melt over them, and fain we would save them from the wrath to come; and we should have great hopes of the success, if we could but make them know their danger: It melts our hearts to look on them and think that they are so near damnation, and never like to scape it, till they know it, till they know that their corruption is so great, that nothing but the quickning spirit can recover them, and nothing less then to become new creatures will serve the turn: But if we would never so fain we cannot make them know it: O that we knew how to acquaint them with their case?
