Because they now feel the evil they never feared before, 1now they see the danger and misery hanging over their heads, able to overwhelm them, and sink their hearts, which they never suspected formerly. And therefore now, not only Reason […] them, but their own safety, Nature and […]-love will force them to bestir themselves to the utmost of their strength, and improve all their abilities to the utmost of their power, to prevent such over-bearing evils, and provide for […] own relief and welfare; and so the more to use all diligence here, because they are unknown, and yet spiritual, which concern their eternal estate, and therefore cause most fear, and threaten most hazard, and therefore constrains them to seek […] and near for succour and relief. So it was with the Prodigal when he came to […], before2 he had not the right […] of his Reason, nor conceived of things as they were, but as frantic men fall, into fire and water, and fear nothing, […] […] […] […] nothing; but now being come to the […] of his understanding, he considers, How many Servants are in my Fathers Family, that have bread enough, and I […] with hunger? Luke, 15. 17. then he […] himself, I will arise and go to my Father, and say, &c. So it is with many prodigal, […], deluded Creatures; they spend time and strength, and lay out themselves; […] nothing, and therefore fear no after-claps, until the time of Famine, and day of […] and horror come in upon them; they never saw, need of reading, hearing, prayer, seeking and enquiry: but now when they find themselves besieged with sins and plagues, and daily expect the execution to be done, Heaven frowning, Hell gaping, their Consciences […], and themselves dropping down to the Grave, and their souls to Hell, they think it high time, and more than time to bestir themselves, ⟨p. 563⟩to do what they can, and to cry for help and direction in so desperate distresses and danger; I will arise, and go confer; I will arise, and go enquire; I will arise, and go pray; The whole need not the Physician, 3therefore they do not send, nor yet are they willing to receive, nor care to enquire, or take any Physic; but when the Disease grows fierce, and life is in danger, then post out Messengers, […] far and near for a Physician, search every bush, enquire of every man what might be good, what have you […]? what would you advise? So here.
Because they now feel the evil they never feared before, 1now they see the danger and misery hanging over their heads, able to overwhelm them, and sink their hearts, which they never suspected formerly. And therefore now, not only Reason 〈…〉 them, but their own safety, Nature and 〈…〉-love wil force them to bestir themselves to the utmost of their strength, and improve al their abilities to the utmost of their power, to prevent such over-bearing evils, and provide for 〈…〉 own relief and welfare; and so the more to use al diligence here, because they are unknown, and yet spiritual, which concern their eternal estate, and therefore cause most fear, and threaten most hazard, and therefore constrains them to seek 〈…〉 and neer for succor and relief. So it was with the Prodigal when he came to 〈…〉, before2 he had not the right 〈…〉 of his Reason, nor conceived of things as they were, but as frantick men fal, into fire and water, and fear nothing, 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 nothing; but now being come to the 〈…〉 of his understanding, he considers, How many Servants are in my Fathers Family, that have bread enough, and I 〈…〉 with hunger? Luke, 15. 17. then he 〈…〉 himself, I will arise and go to my Father, and say, &c. So it is with many prodigal, 〈…〉, deluded Creatures; they spend time and strength, and lay out themselves; 〈…〉 nothing, and therefore fear no after-claps, until the time of Famine, and day of 〈…〉 and horror come in upon them; they never saw, need of reading, hearing, prayer, seeking and enquiry: but now when they find themselves besieged with sins and plagues, and dayly expect the execution to be done, Heaven frowning, Hell gaping, their Consciences 〈…〉, and themselves dropping down to the Grave, and their souls to Hell, they think it high time, and more than time to bestir themselves,
- 1Reas. 1.
- 2Luk, 15. 17. 18.
- 3Math. 9. 12.
