Spiritual refining

And first, The possibility of thy conversion may make thee set about it. It is not with thee as with the damned, and devils in hell. Being thou art not yet in the Grave and Hell, there may be hopes for thee. Although the last day I showed how difficult and unlikely some men were to turn to God, yet that was only in respect of visible second causes; otherwise as when our Saviour said, It was as impossible for a rich man to be saved, as a Camel to go through the eye of a needle; the Disciples then cried out, Who then can be saved? But our Saviour said, With man indeed it is impossible, but with God all things are possible; So sinners, and wicked men under those Characters thus described, are no more likely to turn to God, then a Camel with its bunch-back to go through the eye of a needle: but with God all things are possible. An absolute impossibility of turning to God is only in those that have sinned against the Holy Ghost, or are for ever delivered up by God to an impenitent and a hard heart. But who they are, is rather a secret in Gods counsel, then a mystery discovered to us: so that no wicked men under any Characters whatsoever (unless those excepted) may conclude in despair, That it is not possible they should ever be converted. God doth here invite the sinners of Israel in what quality soever, to turn to God; now this is a great encouragement, the very possibility of turning to God. Ah, How justly might God strike thee dead in thy sins, send thee with thy gore blood to hell, and leave thee hopeless and helpless? But he hath not shut the door against thee: He hath not yet bid thee depart into everlasting fire, He knoweth thee not. It should be like oil in thy bones to think such a thing may be. O Lord, Is not my condition desperate? Is there any hope left for me? Am I not past all favour? Is not my time spent? Oh, What a mercy is this? But […]ing the possibility is uncertain, thy life is so short, time is so quickly run out, that it may be thy conversion is not possible for any longer then a day more, or a night more; then what inexcusable folly and madness will it be to defer it? It is many times Satan's temptation to hold men a long while in sin, and then to persuade them it is too late to turn to God. At first any time is soon enough, ⟨p. 421⟩and afterwards every day is too late; but never believe that suggestion.

And first, The possibility of thy conversion may make thee set about it. It is not with thee as with the damned, and divels in hell. Being thou art not yet in the Grave and Hell, there may be hopes for thee. Although the last day I shewed how difficult and unlikely some men were to turn to God, yet that was onely in respect of visible second causes; otherwise as when our Saviour said, It was as impossible for a rich man to be saved, as a Camel to go through the eye of a needle; the Disciples then cryed out, Who then can be saved? But our Saviour said, With man indeed it is impossible, but with God all things are possible; So sinners, and wicked men under those Characters thus described, are no more likely to turn to God, then a Camel with its bunch-back to go through the eye of a needle: but with God all things are possible. An absolute impossibility of turning to God is onely in those that have sinned against the Holy Ghost, or are for ever delivered up by God to an impenitent and a hard heart. But who they are, is rather a secret in Gods councel, then a mystery discovered to us: so that no wicked men under any Characters whatsoever (unlesse those excepted) may conclude in despair, That it is not possible they should ever be converted. God doth here invite the sinners of Israel in what quality soever, to turn to God; now this is a great encouragement, the very possibility of turning to God. Ah, How justly might God strike thee dead in thy sinnes, send thee with thy goar blood to hell, and leave thee hopeless and helplesse? But he hath not shut the dore against thee: He hath not yet bid thee depart into everlasting fire, He knoweth thee not. It should be like oyl in thy bones to think such a thing may be. O Lord, Is not my condition desperate? Is there any hope left for me? Am I not past all favour? Is not my time spent? Oh, What a mercy is this? But ing the possibility is uncertain, thy life is so short, time is so quickly run out, that it may be thy conversion is not possible for any longer then a day more, or a night more; then what inexcusable folly and madnesse will it be to defer it? It is many times Satans temptation to hold men a long while in sin, and then to perswade them it is too late to turn to God. At first any time is soon enough,