2. The second sense in which it may be said that the day of Grace is over, is this: When a man hath so long resisted the Spirit, that God hath given him over to wilful obstinate Refusals of Mercy, and of Christs Government, ⟨p. 463⟩resolving that he will never give him the prevailing Grace of his Spirit. Where note, 1. That this same man might still have Grace as soon as any other, if he were but Willing to Accept Christ, and Grace in him. 2. That no man can know of himself or any other, that God hath thus finally forsaken him: For God hath given us no sign to know it by; (at least who sin not against the Holy Ghost.) God hath not told us his secret intents concerning such. 4. Yet some men have far greater cause to fear it then others; especially those men, who under the most searching lively Sermons, do continue secure and wilful in known wickedness; either hating godliness and godly persons, and all that do Reprove them, or at least being •••• pified, that they feel no more then a Post the force of Gods terrors, or the sweetness of his promises; but make a jest of sinning, and think the life of godliness a needless thing. Especially if they grow old in this course, I confess such have great Cause to fear lest they are quite forsaken of God: For very few such are ever recovered. 5. And therefore it may well be said to all men, To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts, &c. and, This is the Acceptable time: this is the day of salvation; both as this life is called, The day of salvation; and because ⟨p. 464⟩no man is certain to live another day, that he may Repent; nor yet to have Grace to Repent, if he Live. 6. But what's all this to you that do Repent? Can you have Cause to fear that your day of Grace is over, that have Received Grace? Why, that is as foolish a thing, as if a man should come to the Market, and buy Corn, and when he hath done, go home lamenting that the Market was past before he came? Or as a man should come and hear the Sermon, and when he hath done, lament that the Sermon was done before he came. If your day of Grace be past, tell me, (and do not wrong God) Where had you the Grace of Repentance? How came you by that Grace of holy Desires? Who made you Willing to have Christ for your Lord and Saviour? So that you had rather have him, and Gods favour, and a Holy heart and life, then all the glory of the World?
2. The second sense in which it may be said that the day of Grace is over, is this: When a man hath so long resisted the Spirit, that God hath given him over to wilful obstinate Refusals of Mercy, and of Christs Government, ⟨p. 463⟩resolving that he will never give him the prevailing Grace of his Spirit. Where note, 1. That this same man might still have Grace as soon as any other, if he were but Willing to Accept Christ, and Grace in him. 2. That no man can know of himself or any other, that God hath thus finally forsaken him: For God hath given us no sign to know it by; (at least who sin not against the Holy Ghost.) God hath not told us his secret intents concerning such. 4. Yet some men have far greater cause to fear it then others; especially those men, who under the most searching lively Sermons, do continue secure and wilful in known wickedness; either hating godliness and godly persons, and all that do Reprove them, or at least being •••• pified, that they feel no more then a Post the force of Gods terrours, or the sweetness of his promises; but make a jest of sinning, and think the life of godliness a needless thing. Especially if they grow old in this course, I confess such have great Cause to fear lest they are quite forsaken of God: For very few such are ever recovered. 5. And therefore it may well be said to all men, To day if you will hear his voyce harden not your hearts, &c. and, This is the Acceptable time: this is the day of salvation; both as this life is called, The day of salvation; and because ⟨p. 464⟩no man is certain to live another day, that he may Repent; nor yet to have Grace to Repent, if he Live. 6. But what's all this to you that do Repent? Can you have Cause to fear that your day of Grace is over, that have Received Grace? Why, that is as foolish a thing, as if a man should come to the Market, and buy Corn, and when he hath done, go home lamenting that the Market was past before he came? Or as a man should come and hear the Sermon, and when he hath done, lament that the Sermon was done before he came. If your day of Grace be past, tell me, (and do not wrong God) Where had you the Grace of Repentance? How came you by that Grace of holy Des•res? Who made you Willing to have Christ for your Lord and Saviour? So that you had rather have him, and Gods favour, and a Holy heart and life, then all the glory of the World?
