I will not answer thee according to thy folly; but plainly discover this thy folly to thyself, that if there be yet any hope, thou mayst recover thy understanding, and return to GOD and live: First, I do not name thee, nor any other; I only conclude of the unregenerate in general, and of thee conditionally, if thou be such an one. Secondly, I do not go about to determine who shall repent, and who shall not, much less, that thou shalt never repent, and come to Christ. These things are unknown to me; I had far rather show thee what hopes thou hast before thee, if thou ⟨p. 87⟩wilt not sit still and lose them: and I would far rather persuade thee to hearken in time, before the door is shut against thee, that so thy soul may return and live, than tell thee that there is no hope of thy repenting and returning. But if the foregoing description of the people of GOD do not agree with the state of thy soul; it is then a hard question, whether thou shalt ever be saved? Even as hard a question, as whether GOD be true? Do I need to ascend up into heaven, to know, That without holiness none shall see GOD? or, That only the pure in heart shall see GOD? or, That except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of GOD? Cannot these be known without searching into GOD's councils? And yet dost thou ask me, how I know who shall be saved? What need I go up to heaven to enquire that of Christ, which he came down to earth to tell us? and sent his Spirit in his prophets and apostles to tell us? and hath left upon record to all the world? And though I do not know the secrets of thy heart, and therefore cannot tell thee by name, whether it be thy state, or no; yet if thou art but willing or diligent, thou mayst know thyself, whether thou art an heir of heaven, or not. And that is the main thing that I desire, that if thou be yet miserable, thou mayst discern it, and escape it. But canst thou escape, if thou neglect Christ and salvation? If thou love father, mother, wife, children, houses, lands, or thine own life better than Christ; if so, thou canst not be his disciple. And consequently canst never be saved by him. Is it not as impossible for thee to be saved, except thou be born again, as it is for the devils themselves to be saved?
I will not answer thee according to thy folly; but plainly discover this thy folly to thyself, that if there be yet any hope, thou mayst recover thy understanding, and return to GOD and live: First, I do not name thee, nor any other; I only conclude of the unregenerate in general, and of thee conditionally, if thou be such an one. Secondly, I do not go about to determine who shall repent, and who shall not, much less, that thou shalt never repent, and come to Christ. These things are unknown to me; I had far rather shew thee what hopes thou hast before thee, if thou ⟨p. 87⟩wilt not sit still and lose them: and I would far rather persuade thee to hearken in time, before the door is shut against thee, that so thy soul may return and live, than tell thee that there is no hope of thy repenting and returning. But if the foregoing description of the people of GOD do not agree with the state of thy soul; it is then a hard question, whether thou shalt ever be saved? Even as hard a question, as whether GOD be true? Do I need to ascend up into heaven, to know, That without holiness none shall see GOD? or, That only the pure in heart shall see GOD? or, That except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of GOD? Cannot these be known without searching into GOD's councils? And yet dost thou ask me, how I know who shall be saved? What need I go up to heaven to enquire that of Christ, which he came down to earth to tell us? and sent his Spirit in his prophets and apostles to tell us? and hath left upon record to all the world? And though I do not know the secrets of thy heart, and therefore cannot tell thee by name, whether it be thy state, or no; yet if thou art but willing or diligent, thou mayst know thyself, whether thou art an heir of heaven, or not. And that is the main thing that I desire, that if thou be yet miserable, thou mayst discern it, and escape it. But canst thou escape, if thou neglect Christ and salvation? If thou love father, mother, wife, children, houses, lands, or thine own life better than Christ; if so, thou canst not be his disciple. And consequently canst never be saved by him. Is it not as impossible for thee to be saved, except thou be born again, as it is for the devils themselves to be saved?
