Love to Christ, necessary to escape the curse at his coming

CHAP. XIV. The CONCLUSION.

CHAP. XIV. The CONCLƲSION.

AND now (beloved Hearers) what is the issue of all that I have said, and ye have heard, upon this Subject? Have I gained any of your love ⟨p. 211⟩to Christ? Or are ye still in love with the World, and Pleasures, and Profits, and Honours, thereof? Are ye in love with Sin and Self, more than with Christ, after all the Arguments and Pleadings of Grace and Mercy for your Hearts, and hearty Love, to be placed on the blessed Son of the most blessed God? Did ye love Sin, and will ye love it still? Did ye love the World, and will ye do so still? Did ye not love Christ, and do ye not yet, and will ye not? is this the answer I must return to him that sent me? Lord, I cannot gain their love unto thy Son; fain I would, but I cannot. I have asked them in thy Name, but they will not. I have studied for this purpose, and Prayed and Preached for this purpose, but I have studied in vain, and my Labour with so many is lost Labour. I have delivered my Message, but they will not hearken. I have entreated for their Love, not for my Self, but for thy Son, but many will not consent. Why, Sirs! Did I find you full of Love to Self, and Sin, and World, and after all, must I leave you so? I found you void of the Love of Christ, and must I leave you so? Why then did I Preach, and why did ye Hear? Did ye come day after day resolved, Say what I could, ye would do what ye list? Shall that blessed Jesus, that hath been set forth before you, be still thus despised, and set at naught by you? Did I find the Anathema upon you, and must I leave it upon you, till Maranatha? What if God should say, he that after all these Entreaties, Calls, Invitations, to love Christ, yet loveth the World, Let him love the World; and he that loveth Sin, Let him love his Sin, Let him love his Pleasures, Let him love what he will, since he will not be persuaded to love whom he ⟨p. 212⟩oshuld? Oh dreadful Curse! Oh heavy Wrath! Oh sad presage of the Curse, that shall fall upon such Souls when Christ shall come, and after that, lye and abide upon them for ever!