Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20

Secondly, The Doctrine of Christ's Patience puts a great and serious Exhortation into my Mouth this day, to press one of the greatest Duties upon you that ever I pressed in the whole course of my Ministry among you: And could I deliver this Exhortation to you upon my Knees, with Tears of Blood mingled with my words, might that prevail, I would surely do it. My Exhortation is, to all that are in an unregenerate state, that they presume not to try the Patience of Christ any longer. If you have any regard to your eternal Happiness, exercise not his Patience beyond this hour. Oh that this hour might put an end to Christ's waiting, and your danger! Hitherto you have wearied Men, but will you weary God also? Christ hath called, but you have refused; he hath stretched out his Hands but you have not regarded. Your thoughts have been wandering after vanity, whilst the voice of the Gospel hath been sounding in your Ears; some of you have been sottish and uncapable to apprehend spiritual Truths; others of you sensual, given up to the pleasures of the World, and abandoning all serious thoughts about the World to come. Some of you have been buried alive in the cares of the World, and others settled upon a dead formality in Religion; and to this day Christ hath called upon you in vain. Now that which I exhort you to, is that you venture not to try the Patience of Christ one day longer; if you have any regard to the everlasting happiness of your Souls, come not ⟨p. 115⟩under the guilt and danger of one denial or delay more; if you ask me why? Why may we not venture a little longer? Christ hath born all this while, and will he not bear a little longer? May we not take a little more pleasure in sin? May we not hazard one Sermon, or Sabbath more, and yet not perish? I answer, No. If your Souls be precious in your Eyes let there be no more denials nor delays to Christ's suit. For (1.) how patient and long-suffering soever Christ hath been, yet there will be an end of the day of his Patience; a time when he will wait no longer, when his Spirit shall strive no more with you. There is a knock of Christ at the Heart, which will be the last knock that ever he will give; and after that no more knocks. A time when the Master of the house will rise up and the door be shut. You have had to do with a meek and patient Christ hitherto;