Captives bound in chains, made free by Christ their surety

Use of Exhortation, 1 To you that art bound, that you would look after spiritual freedom; young men that have hard service, long to be made free; and those that be in prisons and chains, long to be at liberty, and shall any of you be content to bide in your thraldom? what will sin do for you? and what will Satan do for you that you are so loth to leave their service? Is the Redeemer come, and wilt thou not mind him? hath he paid the ransom, and waiteth for thy acceptance of him, and wilt thou still refuse him, and the liberty and freedom thou mayst have by him, and canst not have without him? What say you Sirs, you young and old? shall I have your answer? will you be made free, or will you continue in your bondage? if thou wilt, thou mayest; be but willing, and thy chain shall be taken from thee. If thou will not remember liberty was offered to thee, & thou didst refuse it, thou wouldst not be free. Though thou hast been a very vile sinner, and rebellious, yet thou mayest be made free Psal. 68.18. Isa. 49.6. Do these things.

1. Labour to convince thy self that thou wast born in bondage, a slave by nature to Satan and Sin. The Pharisees did not believe that they were in bondage, and therefore ⟨p. 204⟩did not look out to Christ to be made free, Joh. 8.33. This is the undoing of multitudes, that they conclude their condition to be good, when it is not so; and they conclude before they try. Did you but see your bonds, and understanding your slavery, Ministers would have hopes that by their Sermons they may do you good.