3. You must open your hearts and give entertainment unto Christ, if you ever expect to have the gate of Heaven opened unto you, and to be entertained by Christ in his Kingdom. Such as shut the door of their hearts against Christ when they are young, will find (if Christ doth not withdraw, and leave ⟨p. 26⟩knocking) that the door will be faster bolted and barred within against him; the longer you hold it out, the more will Satan strengthen the Fort against Christ, and more easily beat off whatever assaults are made upon you by the Word and Spirit. Christ will come in most willingly to them that open to him presently; and the match will quickly be made up, if in youth you hearken to the motion. Let me beseech you, therefore, my dearly beloved young ones, to open the door to Christ without any further delay; by me he standeth now and knocketh for entertainment; what answer shall I return, that you have harboured lusts there, where his lodging should be, and would not part with them? that you put me off till a further day, until you had a little longer tasted the sweets of sin: O take heed of such carriage of heart towards Christ, Qui non est hodie, cras minus aptus erit, if you be not willing to open to Christ now, you will be more unwilling to morrow: do it then presently; may I be instrumental to join the Lord Jesus Christ and you together in marriage; receive him into your hearts, and accept of him, to love, honour, and obey him, and do it heartily and resolvedly, and he is yours.
3. You must open your hearts and give entertainment unto Christ, if you ever expect to have the gate of Heaven opened unto you, and to be entertained by Christ in his Kingdom. Such as shut the door of their hearts against Christ when they are young, will finde (if Christ doth not withdraw, and leave ⟨p. 26⟩knocking) that the door will be faster bolted and barred within against him; the longer you hold it out, the more will Sathan strengthen the Fort against Christ, and more easily beat off whatever assaults are made upon you by the Word and Spirit. Christ will come in most willingly to them that open to him presently; and the match will quickly be made up, if in youth you hearken to the motion. Let me beseech you, therefore, my dearly beloved young ones, to open the door to Christ without any further delay; by me he standeth now and knocketh for entertainment; what answer shall I return, that you have harboured lusts there, where his lodging should be, and would not part with them? that you put me off till a further day, untill you had a little longer tasted the sweets of sin: O take heed of such carriage of heart towards Christ, Qui non est hodie, cras minus aptus erit, if you be not willing to open to Christ now, you will be more unwilling to morrow: do it then presently; may I be instrumental to joyn the Lord Jesus Christ and you together in marriage; receive him into your hearts, and accept of him, to love, honour, and obey him, and do it heartily and resolvedly, and he is yours.
