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

8ly, Every effectual knock of Christ gives an alarm to Hell, and puts Satan to all his shifts and arts to secure the possession of the convinced ⟨p. 155⟩sinner. The Devil is a jealous Spirit, and when his interest is in danger, he bestirs himself to purpose; the time of Conviction is an hour of temptation. We wrestle not with flesh and blood, (saith the Apostle) but against Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the darkness of this World, against Spiritual wickedness (or wicked Spirits)in high-places, or about heavenlies, Eph. 6. 12. The strife betwixt Satan and the Soul is now for no less than the prize of eternal Life; 'tis now for all, or none; for life or death, for Heaven or Hell; the powers of Hell are now all in Arms to destroy Convictions, and secure the possession of the Soul against Christ; as when a Grenade falls into a Garrison, the first care of the Defendants is, to stifle and choke it before it break. Whilst Christ is speaking by his Spirit in one Ear, the Devil is whispering in the other; and the things he whispers to quench Convictions are usually such as these; It is time enough yet, what need such hast? Enjoy thy pleasures a little longer, thou mayest come to Christ and be saved at last; if that will not do, then he changeth his voice, to what purpose wilt thou go to Christ? 'Tis now too late; the time of Grace is over; hadst thou come to him in thy youth, and obeyed his first call, it had been somewhat, but now it is •o no purpose: If this will not quiet the Soul, then he saith, Thy sins are too great to be pardoned, there's no hope for such a prodigious sinner as thou art. If the Lord help the Soul to overcome this, by discovering to it the riches of mercy, pardoning the greatest of sinners; then he represents the multitudes which are in the same case with the convinced sinner; come, fear ⟨p. 156⟩not, if it go ill with thee, it will be as bad for millions of Men and Women; if thou go to Hell, thousands will go with thee; but if the Soul be loath to be damned for company, then he bids it look upon the train of troubles and afflictions that come along with Christ, and will certainly follow him, if the door be opened to let him in; if Christ come in reproaches, losses and sufferings will certainly come in with him; troops of miseries and calamities follow him;