The fourth (and last) volume of discourses, or sermons, on several scriptures

Secondly, Another End is, hereby God §2leaves them without Excuse: If they perish they shall have nothing to pretend against God. Hath he not often warned, and counselled and threatened them? Hath he not told them, with as much earnestness and vehemency as the words of his Ministers could deliver it, That the wages of sin is death, and the end of those ways wherein they walk will be Shame and eternal Destruction? Have they not with all Seriousness and Entreaties been called upon again and again to repent and turn from the unfruitful Works of Darkness, and to work the Works of God? Can the Mouth of God or Man speak plainer, when they have been calling and crying after any, Turn ye, turn ye, why will you die? This is that which from our Souls we do beseech and entreat at the Hands of Sinners, even for the Blood and Bowels of Jesus Christ; nay, for the Blood and Bowels of their own precious Souls, which they are wilfully spilling upon the Ground, that they would turn and live. Now there is not one that hears this serious Obtestation and is not obedient to it, but his Blood, even the ⟨p. 30⟩Blood of his Soul, will lie upon him for ever. What is it that Men expect? Must God drive Men to Heaven by force and violence, whether they will or no? He hath laid Promises and Threatenings before them, he Exhorts and Commands: And if these things will not prevail with Men whose Faculties are entire, whose Reason is sound, and whose Wills are free; Think not foolishly to charge God, for he is free from the Blood of all Men, and Sinners will be found to be Self-murderers and Self-destroyers. If I had not come and spoken unto them, says our Saviour, they had then had no sin, but now they have no cloak for their sin. So if God had not come and spoken unto Sinners, they had neither had Sin nor Condemnation; but now that he hath spoken to them so often, and exhorted them so frequently and earnestly, therefore, now they have no cloak for their sin. God hath spoken, and his speaking will strike every impenitent Wretch dumb and silent at the great Day, whatever they pretend to now. And this is a second Particular in Answer to this Objection, God doth not mock Mens Weakness when he commands them to work, but hath great, wise and weighty Ends why he doth it.

Secondly, Another End is, hereby God §2leaves them without Excuse: If they perish they shall have nothing to pretend against God. Hath he not often warned, and counselled and threatned them? Hath he not told them, with as much earnestness and vehemency as the words of his Ministers could deliver it, That the wages of sin is death, and the end of those ways wherein they walk will be Shame and eternal Destruction? Have they not with all Seriousness and Entreaties been called upon again and again to repent and turn from the unfruitful Works of Darkness, and to work the Works of God? Can the Mouth of God or Man speak plainer, when they have been calling and crying after any, Turn ye, turn ye, why will you die? This is that which from our Souls we do beseech and intreat at the Hands of Sinners, even for the Blood and Bowels of Jesus Christ; nay, for the Blood and Bowels of their own precious Souls, which they are wilfully spilling upon the Ground, that they would turn and live. Now there is not one that hears this serious Obtestation and is not obedient to it, but his Blood, even the