A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

3. It may be you have set out late, and then it is but reason you should mend your pace, and be earnest and zealous for God; 1 Pet. 4.3. The time past of our Life may suffice us to have wrought the Will of the Gentiles, whilst you lived in Lasciviousness, Lusts, excess of Wine, Revellings, Banquetings, and abominable Idolatries. O it is enough, enough! Travellers that tarry long in their Inn, ride faster in an hour when they set forth, than in two before: you have tarried long, therefore put forward. We see that slow Plants bring forth the most Fruit; as if Nature would recompense the Slowness with the Plenty: so you that were long ere you were called to God, what reason have you to be diligent, and earnest, and zealous in the Work of the Lord? You will think this concerns some that are called in the doting time of their Age, but all Men set forth too late. If we consider God's eternal Love, we should be ashamed that we began no sooner. God loved us before we were; The Mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to them that fear him, Psal. 103.17. from one Eternity to another. God loved us before we had a Being, before we were lovely; and when we had a Being, he loved us when we knew not that he loved us. We were Transgressors from the Womb, defiled and polluted Creatures in our Birth and Original; and afterwards, we knew how to offend and grieve him before we knew how to serve and love him. If we have any Gratitude to God, we should be ashamed that we began so late. God began early with us, from all Eternity he was our God; as long as God is God, he is our God, therefore now we should mend our pace, and double our Diligence, and be more earnest and zealous in the Ways of God.

3. It may be you have set out late, and then it is but reason you should mend your pace, and be earnest and zealous for God; 1 Pet. 4.3. The time past of our Life may suffice us to have wrought the Will of the Gentiles, whilst you lived in Lasciviousness, Lusts, excess of Wine, Revellings, Banquetings, and abominable Idolatries. O it is enough, enough! Travellers that tarry long in their Inn, ride faster in an hour when they set forth, than in two before: you have tarried long, therefore put forward. We see that slow Plants bring forth the most Fruit; as if Nature would recompense the Slowness with the Plenty: so you that were long e're you were called to God, what reason have you to be diligent, and earnest, and zealous in the Work of the Lord? You will think this concerns some that are called in the doting time of their Age, but all Men set forth too late. If we consider God's eternal Love, we should be ashamed that we began no sooner. God loved us before we were; The Mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to them that fear him,