Twenty sermons preached at Oxford before His Majesty, and elsewhere

But let me in this particular rip up the heart of a natural man. What's the reason, that when God gives men a day, and cries out, This is the day of salvation, this is the accepted time, what in the name of God, or the Devils name rather (for he is the adversary, who maligns our Salvation) should cause them, to put salvation from them? To defer and desire a longer time? Thus a natural man reasons with himself, I cannot so soon be taken off from the Profits, and pleasures of the World; I hope to have a time, when I shall with more ease and a greater composedness of mind, bring my self to it: or if it be not with so much ease, yet, I trust, in a sufficient manner, I shall do it: Wherefore, for the present, Isle enjoy the Profits, and Delights of the State, and Condition, where I am; I will solace my self with the pleasures of sin for a season, I hope, true repentance will never be too late.

But let me in this particular rip up the heart of a natural man. What's the reason, that when God gives men a day, and cries out, This is the day of salvation, this is the accepted time, what in the name of God, or the Devils name rather (for he is the adversary, who maligns our Salvation) should cause them, to put salvation from them? To defer and desire a longer time? Thus a natural man reasons with himself, I cannot so soon be taken off from the Profits, and pleasures of the World; I hope to have a time, when I shall with more ease and a greater composedness of mind, bring my self to it: or if it be not with so much ease, yet, I trust, in a sufficient manner, I shall do it: Wherefore, for the present, Ile enjoy the Profits, and Delights of the State, and Condition, where I am; I will solace my self with the pleasures of sin for a season, I hope, true repentance will never be too late.

This is well weighed; but consider, whether these thoughts which poise down our hearts, be not groundless; see, whether they will hold water at the last; and whether in making such excuses, to great presumption, we add not the height of folly. To pretend for our delay, the Profits and Pleasures of sin, and yet hope for Heaven at the last, as well as the generation of the righteous; it's but a mere fallacy, and delusion of Satan, to fill our hearts with such Vanities: Can it be expected, that we should have our good in this World, and in the World to come too? This is well, if it might be.