19. If you neglect the offering violence 1now, there will be no help for you after death. When men shall open their eyes in another world, and see into what a damned condition they have sinned themselves, O now what would they not do, what violence would they not use, if there were a possibility they might be saved! When once the door of mercy is shut, if God would make new terms far harder than before, they would readily seal to them. If God should say to the sinner after death, Wouldst thou be content to return to the earth, and live there under the ⟨p. 159⟩harrow of persecution a thousand years for my sake? Yes Lord, I will subscribe to this, and endure the world's fury, may I have but thy favour at last. But, wilt thou be content to serve an Apprenticeship in Hell a thousand years, where thou shalt feel the worm gnawing, and the fire burning? Yes Lord, even in Hell I submit to be; so that after a thousand years I may have a release, and that bitter cup may pass away from me. But, wilt thou for every lye thou hast told, endure the rack? wilt thou for every Oath that thou hast sworn, fill a bottle of tears? wilt thou for every sin thou hast committed, lye ten thousand years in sackcloth and ashes? Yes Lord, all this and more if thou requirest, I will subscribe to; I am content now to use any violence, if I may but at last be admitted into thy Kingdom. No, will God say; there shall be no such condition proposed to thee, no possibility of favour, but thou shalt lye for ever among the damned, and who is able to dwell with everlasting burnings? Oh therefore be wise in time, now while God's terms are more easy, embrace Christ, and Heaven, for after ⟨p. 160⟩death there will be nothing to be done for your souls. The sinner and the furnace shall never be parted.
19. If you neglect the offering violence 1now, there will be no help for you after death. When men shall open their eyes in another world, and see into what a damned condition they have sinned themselves, O now what would they not do, what violence would they not use, if there were a possibility they might be saved! When once the door of mercy is shut, if God would make new terms far harder than before, they would readily seal to them. If God should say to the sinner after death, Wouldst thou be content to return to the earth, and live there under the ⟨p. 159⟩harrow of persecution a thousand years for my sake? Yes Lord, I will subscribe to this, and endure the world's fury, may I have but thy favour at last. But, wilt thou be content to serve an Apprentiship in Hell a thousand years, where thou shalt feel the worm gnawing, and the fire burning? Yes Lord, even in Hell I submit to be; so that after a thousand years I may have a release, and that bitter cup may pass away from me. But, wilt thou for every lye thou hast told, endure the rack? wilt thou for every Oath that thou hast sworn, fill a bottle of tears? wilt thou for every sin thou hast committed, lye ten thousand years in sackcloth and ashes? Yes Lord, all this and more if thou requirest, I will subscribe to; I am content now to use any violence, if I may but at last be admitted into thy Kingdom. No, will God say; there shall be no such condition proposed to thee, no possibility of favour, but thou shalt lye for ever among the damned, and who is able to dwell with everlasting burnings? Oh therefore be wise in time, now while God's terms are more easie, embrace Christ, and Heaven, for after ⟨p. 160⟩death there will be nothing to be done for your souls. The sinner and the furnace shall never be parted.
- 119 Motive
