Man ashiv le-Yahoweh, or, A serious enquiry for a suitable return for continued life,…

Oh that I could persuade thee, or if I cannot, as indeed I cannot; oh that God would yet persuade thee? If I might be serviceable to thy soul, oh how should I rejoice; if I did but know where thou dost dwell, that hast been wicked all thy days, and now art reading of these lines, having a purpose in thy heart to come to Christ, I would come to thee (as opportunity ⟨p. 70⟩was offered) and beg upon my knees, that thou wouldest cherish those purposes, and be persuaded to what conduceth to thy eternal happiness: if tears and prayers would do it, I would endeavour (though my heart is hard) to shed them for thee; if putting my hands, under thy feet, and stooping to the meanest office of love unto thy soul, would excite thee to let Christ into thy heart, how readily (by the grace of God) would I be willing to it.

Oh that I could perswade thee, or if I cannot, as indeed I cannot; oh that God would yet perswade thee? If I might be serviceable to thy soule, oh how should I rejoyce; if I did but know where thou dost dwell, that hast been wicked all thy dayes, and now art reading of these lines, having a purpose in thy heart to come to Christ, I would come to thee (as opportunity ⟨p. 70⟩was offered) and beg upon my knees, that thou wouldest cherish those purposes, and be perswaded to what conduceth to thy eternall happiness: if teares and prayers would do it, I would endeavour (though my heart is hard) to shed them for thee; if putting my hands, under thy feet, and stooping to the meanest office of love unto thy soule, would excite thee to let Christ into thy heart, how readily (by the grace of God) would I be willing to it.

I beseech thee by the mercies of God, by the death of Christ, by the coming of our Lord, by the love thou bearest to thy self, as ever thou wouldest see the face of Christ with comfort, as ever thou wouldest escape the damnation of Hell, return at last, and though it be late, yet return at last. But if thou wilt not, let God be my witness, let as many as read these lines be my witnesses, let thy own Conscience be my witness, that thou hast been asked, entreated, yea earnestly entreated to reform, and mend, and turn to God. But in hopes that I may prevail, I beseech thee in the fear of God, give in a sober and deliberate answer unto these following Questions.