The truly blessed man

2. You are yet striven with, and called upon. God indeed speaks of a cessation of his Spirit striving with obstinate Sinners, Gen. 6.3. And there are the awful instances of it; but the case is otherwise with you. If the means of grace are influenced so as to rouse and awaken you out of your security, and make you feel your misery, and be afraid by reason of it: if he presents your sins to you in their aggravations, and makes them evil and bitter to you, this is a work of his Spirit, and saith that he strives still; and whiles he strives, there is hope that he may be found.

3. Hence these fears and terrors are not to drive ⟨p. 329⟩you to despair, but to awaken you from your neglect. And indeed you stand in need of them. You despised many a gentle warning, and were grown dreadfully secure, fearfully asleep; it was therefore meet that you should be startled by some terrible impressions made on you, […] he should give you deep and gaping wounds in your Consciences, to make you sensible▪ the providence then is merciful, though terrible; but you ought to count it a mercy, and then, the lesson properly to be learned from it, is to put you upon speed, and utmost diligence, in seeking of God without delay. We have such a prayer of the Psalmist, Psal. 83.15, 16. God makes sin a burden too heavy to bear, that men may feel the necessity of seeking him: And therefore Christ specially invites such to come unto him, Mat. 11.28. Be then encouraged; whatever you have been and done, there is hope in Israel concerning this thing; only delay not.

3. Hence these fears and terrours are not to drive ⟨p. 329⟩