III. Is it an Advantage for us, to Repent in our most Early Years? Those of us have sad cause to Mourn, that have Delayed Repentance until our Later Years. My Neighbours; If the Love of God, had inflamed your Hearts never so soon, yet you would have cause to Confess and Complain with old Austin, Lord, it was too Late, when l first began to love thee! How much more may you now complain of your selves, That you made it so very Late, before your doing any thing to purpose, about the Great Errand which you came into the world upon! It was mentioned by one that was New-born, as a matter of Humiliation, 1 Cor. 15. 8. I was one Born out of due Time. Here the Abortives are they that come Too late! Oh, Let your Humiliation appear, in your shaking off all further Delays, and your doing Immediately the Good Things that God requires of you. Immediately abandon all the Paths of the Destroyer; Immediately submit unto the Regenerating Influences of the Holy Spirit, that are offered you; Immediately become ⟨p. 25⟩seriously Religious. Though it be Late, Blessed be God, it is not yet altogether Too Late. It may be, the Devil, who once told you, Tis too soon, does now tell you, Tis too late. Though you did once Presume, do not now Despair. Indeed, it will shortly, very shortly be Too Late. This I say, The Time is but short, ere you will hear the Oath of Heaven, That Time will be no more. But Yet it is not so; As Yet, even, After […] long a Time, God saith, To Day if you will hear His Voice. 'Twas a Remarkable Occurrence, whereof we read, Joh. 5. 6. Jesus knew that he had now been a long Time Ill, and saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? Even so, Though you have been a long Time very miserably out of Order, yet the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to be your Healer, and your Saviour. Oh! But since you have let your Disorders go on such a long Time without seeking to Him, let it be Enough, [Alas, it is Too much!] And say now, Lord, I am at last willing to be made whole, and I am astonished, that after such a long Time, thou art willing to make me so!
III. Is it an Advantage for us, to Repent in our most Early Years? Those of us have sad cause to Mourn, that have Delay'd Repentance until our Later Years. My Neighbours; If the Love of God, had inflamed your Hearts never so soon, yet you would have cause to Confess and Complain with old Austin, Lord, it was too Late, when l first began to love thee! How much more may you now complain of your selves, That you made it so very Late, before your doing any thing to purpose, about the Great Errand which you came into the world upon! It was mentioned by one that was New-born, as a matter of Humiliation, 1 Cor. 15. 8. I was one Born out of due Time. Here the Abortives are they that come Tob late! Oh, Let your Humiliation appear, in your shaking off all further Delayes, and your doing Immediately the Good Things that God requires of you. Immediately abandon all the Paths of the Destroyer; Immediately submit unto the Regenerating Influences of the Holy Spirit, that are offered you; Immediately become ⟨p. 25⟩seriously Religious. Though it be Late, Blessed be God, it is not yet altogether Too Late. It may be, the Devil, who once told you, Tis too soon, does now tell you, Tis too late. Though you did once Presume, do not now Despair. Indeed, it will shortly, very shortly be Too Late. This I say, The Time is but short, ere you will hear the Oath of Heaven, That Time will be no more. But Yet it is not so; As Yet, even, After 〈…〉 long a Time, God saith, To Day if you will hear His Voice. 'Twas a Remarkable Occurrence, whereof we read, Joh. 5. 6. Jesus knew that he had now been a long Time Ill, and saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? Even so, Though you have been a long Time very miserably out of Order, yet the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to be your Healer, and your Saviour. Oh! But since you have let your Disorders go on such a long Time without seeking to Him, let it be Enough, [Alas, it is Too much!] And say now, Lord, I am at last willing to be made whole, and I am astonished, that after such a long Time, thou art willing to make me so!
