And now I should conclude, I am loth to end, for fear lest I have not yet prevailed with you: What are you now resolved to do from this day forward? It is work that we have been speaking of, and necessary work of endless consequence, which must be done, and quickly done, and throughly done. Are you not convinced that it is so? that ploughing and sowing are not more necessary to your harvest, then the work of holiness, in this day of grace, is necessary to your salvation? You are blind if you see not this: you are dead if you feel it not: what then will you do? For Gods sake, and for your own sake, stand not demurring till time be gone. It is all that the Devil desireth, if he can but find you one thing or other to be thinking, and talking, and doing about, to keep ⟨p. 164⟩you from this till time be gone; and then he will insult over you, & then he that kept you from seeing and feeing, will help you to see and feel to your calamity: Then the Devil will make you feel that which Preachers could not make you feel: and he will make you think of that, and lay it close enough to your hearts, which we could not get you to lay to heart. Now we study and preach to you in hope, but then (alas it breaks our hearts to think of it) we have done with you for ever, because all hope is gone. Then the Devil may challenge a Minister: [Now do thy worst to bring this sinner to repentance; Now call to him to consider, and believe, and come to Christ; Now offer him mercy, and entreat him to accept it; Now cry to him to take heed of sin and of temptations, that he comes not to this place of torments; Now tell him of the beauty or necessity of ⟨p. 165⟩holiness, and call upon him to Turn and Live; Now do thy worst to rescue him from my power, and to save his soul.] Alas poor sinner! will you stop your ears, and go on in sin, and damn your selves, and break our hearts to fore-see that day! Must we see the Devil go away with such a prey, and shall we not rescue your captivated souls, because you will not hear, you will not stir, you will not consent! Oh hear the God of Heaven if you will not hear us, who calleth to you, Return and Live! Oh hear him that shed his blood for souls and tendereth you now salvation by his blood! O hear without any more delay, before all is gone, and you are gone, and he that now deceiveth you, torment you!
And now I should conclude, I am loth to end, for fear lest I have not yet prevailed with you: What are you now resolved to do from this day forward? It is work that we have been speaking of, and necessary work of endless consequence, which must be done, and quickly done, and throughly done. Are you not convinced that it is so? that plowing and sowing are not more necessary to your harvest, then the work of holiness, in this day of grace, is necessary to your salvation? You are blind if you see not this: you are dead if you feel it not: what then will you do? For Gods sake, and for your own sake, stand not demurring till time be gone. It is all that the Devil desireth, if he can but find you one thing or other to be thinking, and talking, and doing about, to keep ⟨p. 164⟩you from this till time be gone; and then he will insult over you, & then he that kept you from seeing and feeing, will help you to see and feel to your calamity: Then the Devil will make you feel that which Preachers could not make you feel: and he will make you think of that, and lay it close enough to your hearts, which we could not get you to lay to heart. Now we study and preach to you in hope, but then (alas it breaks our hearts to think of it) we have done with you for ever, because all hope is gone. Then the Devil may challenge a Minis••r: [Now do thy worst to bring this sinner to repentance; Now call to him to consider, and believe, and come to Christ; Now offer him mercy, and intreat him to accept it; Now cry to him to take heed of sin and of temptations, that he comes not to this place of torments; Now tell him of the beauty or necessity of ⟨p. 165⟩holiness, and call upon him to Turn and Live; Now do thy worst to rescue him from my power, and to save his soul.] Alas poor sinner! will you stop your ears, and go on in sin, and damn your selves, and break our hearts to fore-see that day! Must we see the Devil go away with such a prey, and shall we not rescue your captivated souls, because you will not hear, you will not stir, you will not consent! Oh hear the God of Heaven if you will not hear us, who calleth to you, Return and Live! Oh hear him that shed his blood for souls and tendereth you now salvation by his blood! O hear without any more delay, before all is gone, and you are gone, and he that now deceiveth you, torment you!
