A call to the unconverted, to turn and live

Doct. 5. So earnest is God for the conversion of sinners, that he doubleth his commands and exhortations, with vehemency: Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?

THIS doctrine is the application of the former, a• by a use of exhortation, and accordingly I shall handle it. Is there ever an unconverted sinner that heareth these vehement words of God. Is there ever a man and woman in this assembly that is y•• a stranger to the renewing sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost? (It is an happy assembly if it be not so with the most) hearken then to the voice of your Maker, and turn to him by Christ without delay. Would you know the will of God? Why this is his will, that you presently turn. Shall the living God send so earnest a message to his creatures, and should they not obey? 2. Hearken, then, all you that live after the flesh; the Lord that gave thee thy breath and being, hath sent a message to thee from heaven; and this is his message, turn ye, turn ye, why will you die? He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Shall the voice of the Eternal Majesty be neglected? If he do but terribly thunder, thou art afraid. O but this voice doth more nearly concern ⟨p. 57⟩thee. If he did but tell thee, thou shalt die tomorrow, thou wouldst not make light of it. O but this word concerneth thy life or death everlasting. It is both a command and an exhortation. As if he said to thee, ["I charge thee upon the allegiance that thou owest to me thy Creator and Redeemer, that thou renounce the flesh, the world and the devil, and turn to me that thou mayest live. I condescend to entreat thee, as thou either lovest or fearest him that made thee; as thou lovest thine own life, even thine everlasting life, turn and live; as ever thou would escape eternal misery, turn, turn, for why wilt thou die?"] And is there a heart in man, in a reasonable creature, that can once refuse such a message, such a command, such an exhortation as this! O what a thing then is the heart of man!