If any of you were justly condemned to a cruel and shameful death, and lay trembling in the expectation of the execution of it, and a man designed for that purpose should come unto him, and tell him that there were terms propounded on which his life might be spared, only he came away like Ahimaaz before he heard the particulars; would it not be a reviving unto him? would he not cry out, Pray enquire what they are, for there is not any thing so difficult which I will not undergo to free my self from this miserable condition? Would it not change the whole frame of the spirit of such a man, and as it were put new life into him? But now if instead hereof, he should be froward, stubborn and obstinate, take no notice of the Messenger, or say, Let the Judge keep his terms to himself, without inquiring what they are; that he would have nothing to do with them; would not such a person be deemed to perish deservedly? doth he not bring a double destruction upon himself; first of deserving death by his crimes, and then by refusing the honest and good way of delivery tendered unto him? I confess it often times falls out, that men may come to enquire after these terms of Peace, which when they are revealed, they like them not, but with the young man in the Gospel they go away sorrowful. The cursed wickedness and misery of which condition, which ⟨p. 249⟩befalls many convinced persons, shall be spoken unto afterwards. At present I speak unto them who never yet attended in sincerity unto these terms, nor seriously enquired after them. Think you what you please of your Condition, and of your selves; or choose whether you will think of it or no, pass your time in a full regardlessness, of your present and future Estate. Yet indeed thus it is with you, as to your eternal concerns; you lye under the sentence of a bitter, shameful, and everlasting death; you have done so in the midst of all your jollity, ever since you came into this world: And you are in the hand of him, who can in the twinkling of an eye destroy both body and soul in Hell fire. In this state and condition, men are sent on purpose, to let you know that there are terms of Peace, there is yet a way of escape for you: And that you may not avoid the issue aimed at, they tell you, that God that cannot lye, hath commanded them to tell you so;
If any of you were justly condemned to a cruel and shamefull death, and lay trembling in the expectation of the execution of it, and a man designed for that purpose should come unto him, and tell him that there were terms propounded on which his life might be spared, only he came away like Ahimaaz before he heard the particulars; would it not be a reviving unto him? would he not cry out, Pray enquire what they are, for there is not any thing so difficult which I will not undergoe to free my self from this miserable condition? Would it not change the whole frame of the spirit of such a man, and as it were put new life into him? But now if instead hereof, he should be froward, stubborn and obstinate, take no notice of the Messenger, or say, Let the Judge keep his terms to himself, without inquiring what they are; that he would have nothing to do with them; would not such a person be deemed to perish deservedly? doth he not bring a double destruction upon himself; first of deserving death by his crimes, and then by refusing the honest and good way of delivery tendred unto him? I confess it often times falls out, that men may come to enquire after these terms of Peace, which when they are revealed, they like them not, but with the young man in the Gospel they go away sorrowfull. The cursed wickedness and misery of which condition, which ⟨p. 249⟩befalls many convinced persons, shall be spoken unto afterwards. At present I speak unto them who never yet attended in sincerity unto these terms, nor seriously enquired after them. Think you what you please of your Condition, and of your selves; or choose whether you will think of it or no, pass your time in a full regardlesness, of your present and future Estate. Yet indeed thus it is with you, as to your eternal concerns; you lye under the sentence of a bitter, shamefull, and everlasting death; you have done so in the midst of all your jollity, ever since you came into this world: And you are in the hand of him, who can in the twinkling of an eye destroy both body and soul in Hell fire. In this state and condition, men are sent on purpose, to let you know that there are terms of Peace, there is yet a way of escape for you: And that you may not avoid the issue aimed at, they tell you, that God that cannot lye, hath commanded them to tell you so;
