Twenty sermons preached at Oxford before His Majesty, and elsewhere

Seeing then these are not in your power, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation: nor offer despite unto the Holy Ghost, by whom you are sealed to the day of redemption, Ephes. 4.3, If we embrace not God's day, we despise the riches of his goodness, long suffering, and patience. Rom. 2.4. Despisest thou the riches of God's grace, not knowing that the long-suffering of God leadeth to repentance? There can be no higher presumption then this, to bid defiance to the Spirit of God: Nor can there be greater contempt of mercy, then to set light of the time of our repentance, and returning unto God, making that the greatest argument of our delay, which God uses to draw us to him. God gives us space, that we may repent, and we repent not, because he gives us space: He gives us life, that with fear and trembling we may set about the business of salvation, and we (through strong delusions) put from us the proffers of his grace, as if they were unseasonably offered. What madness is it to frustrate the Almighty of his ends and purposes? The Lord is not slack touching his promise, 2 Pet. 3.9. It's a great stop and hinderance to our progress in goodness and the work of repentance, when we distrust God, and take him not at his word. He sends abroad his Ambassadors, who proclaim, This is the accepted time, this is the day of salvation, to day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; 2 Cor. 6.2. Psalm 95.7, 8. yet we put this day from us, and say hereafter is a more acceptable time. I have this delight, ⟨p. 9⟩this Pleasure to take first in the World, I am not so weaned from it, as I would be. As if God would take it well from our hands, that we should then return to him, when there is no remedy. Isle first use all the pleasure the World affords me, and then, Lord have mercy on me, will serve the turn. This is the very stifling of the beginning and proceedings of Christianity. Let this be well and speedily weighed, as we tender our good and comfort.

Seeing then these are not in your power, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation: nor offer despight unto the Holy Ghost, by whom you are sealed to the day of redemption,