And suppose thou perish notwithstanding.1 Do but yet consult a little with thy own thoughts, which is more tolerable and easy to them to perish, as not attaining what thy fainter strugglings could not reach; or for the most direct, wilful rebellion; doing wickedly as thou couldest? Or who shall have, thinkest thou, ⟨p. 283⟩the more fearful condemnation. He that shall truly say when his Master comes to judgment; I never had indeed (Lord) an heart so fully changed, and turned to thee, as should denote me to be the subject of thy saving, pardoning mercy; but thou knowest (who knowest all things) I long (and with some earnestness) did endeavour it. Thou hast been privy to my secret desires, and moans, to the weak strivings of a listless, distempered spirit, not pleased with it self; aiming at a better temper towards thee. I neglected not thy prescribed means, only that grace which I could not challenge thou wast pleased not to give; thou didst require what I must confess my self to have owed thee; thou didst with-hold only what thou owedst me not; therefore must I yield my self a convicted guilty wretch, and have nothing to say why thy sentence should not pass. Or he that shall as truly hear from the mouth of his Judge; Sinner, thou wast often forewarned of this approaching day, and called upon to provide for it. Thou hadst Precept, upon Precept, and Line, upon Line. The counsels of life, and peace were, with frequent importunity pressed upon thee, but thou rejectedst all with proud contempt, didst despise, with the same profane scorn, the offers, commands, and threats of him that made thee; hardenest thy heart to the most obstinate rebellion against his known Laws, didst all the wickedness to which thy heart prompted thee, without restraint, declinedst every ⟨p. 284⟩thing of duty which his Authority, and the exigency of thy own case did oblige thee to; didst avoid, as much as thou couldest, to hear or know any thing of my will, couldst not find one serious considering hour in • whole life time, to bethink thy self wha• was likely to become of thee, when thy place on earth should know thee no more. Thou mightest know thou wast at my mercy, thy breath in my hand, and that I could easily have cut thee off, any moment of that large space of time, my patience allowed thee in the world. Yet thou never thoughtest it worthy the while to sue to me for thy life.
And suppose thou perish notwithstanding.1 Do but yet consult a little with thy own thoughts, which is more tolerable and easie to them to perish, as not attaining what thy fainter struglings could not reach; or for the most direct, wilful rebellion; doing wickedly as thou couldest? Or who shall have, thinkest thou, ⟨p. 283⟩the more fearful condemnation. He that shall truely say when his Master comes to judgment; I never had indeed (Lord) an heart so fully changed, and turned to thee, as should denote me to be the subject of thy saving, pardoning mercy; but thou knowest (who knowest all things) I long (and with some earnestness) did endeavour it. Thou hast been privy to my secret desires, and moanes, to the weak strivings of a listless, distempered spirit, not pleased with it self; aiming at a better temper towards thee. I neglected not thy prescribed means, onely that grace which I could not challenge thou wast pleased not to give; thou didst require what I must confess my self to have owed thee; thou did'st with-hold onely what thou owedst me not; therefore must I yield my self a convicted guilty wretch, and have nothing to say why thy sentence should not pass. Or he that shall as truely hear from the mouth of his Judge; Sinner, thou wast often forewarned of this approaching day, and call'd upon to provide for it. Thou hadst Precept, upon Precept, and Line, upon Line. The counsels of life, and peace were, with frequent importunity prest upon thee, but thou rejectedst all with proud contempt, did'st despise, with the same profane scorn, the offers, commands, and threats of him that made thee; hardenest thy heart to the most obstinate rebellion against his known Laws, did'st all the wickedness to which thy heart prompted thee, without restraint, declinedst every ⟨p. 284⟩thing of duty which his Authority, and the exigency of thy own case did oblige thee to; did'st avoid, as much as thou couldest, to hear or know any thing of my will, could'st not find one serious considering hour in • whole life time, to bethink thy self wha• was likely to become of thee, when thy place on earth should know thee no more. Thou might'st know thou wast at my mercy, thy breath in my hand, and that I could easily have cut thee off, any moment of that large space of time, my patience allow'd thee in the world. Yet thou never thought'st it worthy the while to sue to me for thy life.
- 1Reply.
