Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…

2. Grace to do it. Now neither of these are in thine own hands, if they were, thou hadst ground for a farther delay. If thou hadst power to say, I will live so long, or could by thine own might prolong thy life, it were something, but it's otherwise. In refusing Gods proffer, thou refusest him that hath thy life in his hand. What high presumption is this? See it in Jezebel, Rev. 2. I gave her space to repent, but she repented not. As if God should have said, it's I gave it her, I gave her time to live, I might have cut her off in the midst of her whoredoms. Observe here by the way the reason why God gives us this space; it is to repent. What presumption must that be, when we will go quite contrary to God? and because we have space, therefore we will not repent. Why does not God smite thee from heaven, when thou thus audaciously settest thy self against him? Why do's he not strike thee with a thunderbolt? Sure he gives thee this space not to spend it idly, but to another end; not to follow our lusts, neglecting Gods call, but that thou mayst remember thy self, and return with all thy heart. Remember those words of the Prophet, My times are in thy hands, Psal. 35. He said not, my times are in mine own hands; for he knew it was grand presumption. Why then should any challenge that to himself, that belongs to God, as if he were the lord of his own life, supposing Gods call unseasonable, and that he may think on it better hereafter? May not a young man die soon? now an old man cannot live long. Many strong ⟨p. 13⟩and lusty m•n are brought to the gr•ve as well as the weak and feeble. And why should we suffer Satan to abuse us thus? Thy space then is preserved in Gods hand, and therefore thou mayst not be Lord and Master of it. But admit God grant thee space, yet thou mayst not have the grace to do it. What was Jezebels case, Rev. 3. Though God gave her space, yet she repented not. What canst thou tell what may then become of thee? perchance thou mayst live long, yet mayst thou never find as much as thy thoughts on repentance, much less the grace to do it: thou mayst not have a desire that way, much less perform it. Repentance is not a thing at our own command. In meekness (saith the Apostle) instruct them that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth,