Consider. 2. That if it should be so, that Gods Spirit should cease striving with thee, thou art then utterly undone forever: For when the Lord doth cease striving with men, he doth even swear in his wrath against them, Psal. 95.11. Unto whom I sware in my wrath, [if] they enter into my rest. Saith the Lord, [if] those sinners enter into rest, then let me not be accounted God any longer: Oh thou sinful Creature, if the Lord should be provoked in his wrath to swear against thee, then as sure as God is God thou shalt be damned. A man may say a thing, and yet possibly go back, but if he swear, he will not go from his word: So the Lord speaking after the manner of men, is said to swear against some sinners, to show his unalterable Determination against them, when he hath sworn, he will not repent, Psal. 110.4. Alas, this day of Grace is past, if the holy Spirit ⟨p. 144⟩should for ever cease striving with thee; and then no Prayers, nor Cries, nor Tears will avail for mercy. There is a Scripture, which methinks should strike cold to the heart of many an unconverted sinner that hears me this day; it is that in the first Chapter of the Proverbs, and the 28 Verse, Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. This was fulfilled upon the Jews, therefore did Christ say to them, Ye shall seek me, and shall dye in your sins: whither I go you cannot come, John 8.21. Alas, they did not come till the door of Mercy was shut upon them. Had they sought God early in the morning, they might have found him, Pro. 8.17. But it was early in the evening, that is to say, presently after the day of Grace was done that they sought, and then found him not: O Remember Esau, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said to his Father, Bless me, even me also, O my Father, Gen. 27.34. But then it was too late, and therefore all cries were in vain. Remember also how it was with the Children of Israel, Deut. 1.45. Ye returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you. They ⟨p. 145⟩would not when they might, and therefore when they would, God said them nay. God commanded them to enter into Canaan, but they refused; afterwards they would gladly have done it, but then it was too late:
Consider. 2. That if it should be so, that Gods Spirit should cease striving with thee, thou art then utterly undone forever: For when the Lord doth cease striving with men, he doth even swear in his wrath against them, Psal. 95.11. Ʋnto whom I sware in my wrath, [if] they enter into my rest. Saith the Lord, [if] those sinners enter into rest, then let me not be accounted God any longer: Oh thou sinful Creature, if the Lord should be provoked in his wrath to swear against thee, then as sure as God is God thou shalt be damned. A man may say a thing, and yet possibly go back, but if he swear, he will not go from his word: So the Lord speaking after the manner of men, is said to swear against some sinners, to shew his unalterable Determination against them, when he hath sworn, he will not repent, Psal. 110.4. Alas, this day of Grace is past, if the holy Spirit ⟨p. 144⟩should for ever cease striving with thee; and then no Prayers, nor Crys, nor Tears will avail for mercy. There is a Scripture, which methinks should strike cold to the heart of many an unconverted sinner that hears me this day; it is that in the first Chapter of the Proverbs, and the 28 Verse, Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. This was fulfilled upon the Jews, therefore did Christ say to them, Ye shall seek me, and shall dye in your sins: whither I go you cannot come, John 8.21. Alas, they did not come till the door of Mercy was shut upon them. Had they sought God early in the morning, they might have found him, Pro. 8.17. But it was early in the evening, that is to say, presently after the day of Grace was done that they sought, and then found him not: O Remember Esau, he cryed with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said to his Father, Bless me, even me also, O my Father, Gen. 27.34. But then it was too late, and therefore all crys were in vain. Remember also how it was with the Children of Israel, Deut. 1.45. Ye returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you. They ⟨p. 145⟩would not when they might, and therefore when they would, God said them nay. God commanded them to enter into Canaan, but they refused; afterwards they would gladly have done it, but then it was too late:
