Now this verse is an answer to the former, and such an one as hath in it a kind of rejection of the former answer. Nay Father Abraham. Nay saith he, do not say so, do not put them off with this; send one from the dead, and then there vvill be some hopes. 'Tis true; ⟨p. 155⟩thou speakest of the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets, and sayest, let them hear them, but these things are not so well as I could wish, I had rather thou wouldst send one from the dead. In these words therefore, Nay, Father Abraham, there is a repulse given. Nay, let it not be so. Nay I do not like of that answer; Hear Moses and the Prophets? nay. The same expression is used by Christ, Luk. 13.2, 3. Think you that they upon whom the tower of Silo fell, were sinners above others? I tell you nay, for except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. So here, Nay, Father Abraham, &c. By this word nay, therefore is signified a rejecting the first answer. Now observe, I pray you, the reason why he says nay, is, because God doth put over all those that vvill be saved to observe and receive the truth contained in Scripture, and believe that. To have high esteem of them, and to love and search them, as Christ saith, Search the Scriptures,—for they are they which testify of me. Joh. 5.39. But the damned say, Nay; as if he had said, It is true, the Scriptures are truth, and every curse contained in, and held forth by them, shall be fulfilled, and have its time ⟨p. 156⟩to be executed on them who live and die in unbelief; as now I feel by woeful experience, for I swim now in the curses and wrath which once they told me I should partake of. But this is the thing to be short, my brethren are unbelievers, and do not regard the word of God, I know it by my self, for when I was in the world it was so with me. 'Tis true, many a good Sermon did I hear, many a time was I admonished, desired, entreated, beseeched, threatened, forewarned of what I now suffer: But alas, I was ignorant, self-conceited, surly, obstinate and rebellious. 'Tis true, many a time the preacher told me, hell would be my portion, the devil would wreck his malice on me, God would pour on me his sore displeasure, but he had as good have preached to the stock, to the post, to the stones I trod on. 'Tis true, his words rang in mine ears, but I kept them from my heart. I remember he alleged many a Scripture, but those I valued not;
Novv this verse is an ansvver to the former, and such an one as hath in it a kind of reject•on of the former ansvver. Nay Father Abraham. Nay saith he, do not say so, do not put them off vvith this; send one from the dead, and then there vvill be some hopes. 'Tis true; ⟨p. 155⟩thou speakest of the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets, and sayest, let them hear them, but these things are not so vvell as I could vvish, I had rather thou wouldst send one from the dead. In these vvords therefore, Nay, Father Abraham, there is a repulse given. Nay, let it not be so. Nay I do not like of that ansvver; Hear Moses and the Prophets? nay. The same expression is used by Christ, Luk. 13.2, 3. Think you that they upon whom the tower of Siloe fell, were sinners above others? I tell you nay, for except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. So here, Nay, Father Abraham, &c. By this vvord nay, therefore is signified a rejecting the first ansvver. Novv observe, I pray you, the reason vvhy he sayes nay, is, because God doth put over all those that vvill be saved to observe and receive the truth contained in Scripture, and believe that. To have high esteem of them, and to love and search them, as Christ saith, Search the Scriptures,—for they are they which testifie of me. Joh. 5.39. But the damned say, Nay; as if he had said, It is true, the Scriptures are truth, and every curse contained in, and held forth by them, shall be fulfilled, and have its time ⟨p. 156⟩to be executed on them vvho live and die in unbelief; as novv I feel by vvoful experience, for I svvim novv in the curses and vvrath vvhich once they told me I should partake of. But this is the thing to be short, my brethren are unbelievers, and do not regard the word of God, I know it by my self, for when I was in the world it was so with me. 'Tis true, many a good Sermon did I hear, many a time was I admonished, desired, intreated, beseeched, threatned, forewarned of what I now suffer: But alas, I was ignorant, self-conceited, surly, obstinate and rebellious. 'Tis true, many a time the preacher told me, hell would be my portion, the devill would wreck his malice on me, God would pour on me his sore displeasure, but he had as good have preached to the stock, to the post, to the stones I trod on. 'Tis true, his words rang in mine ears, but I kept them from my heart. I remember he alledged many a Scripture, but those I valued not;
