A call to the unconverted, to turn and live

And now I am come to the conclusion of this work; my heart is troubled to think how I shall leave you, lest, after this, the flesh should still deceive you, and the world and the devil should keep you asleep, and I should leave you as I found you, till you awake in hell. Though in care of your poor souls, I am afraid of this, as knowing the obstinacy of a carnal heart; yet I can say with the prophet Jeremiah, xvii. 16. I have not desired the woeful day, the Lord knoweth. I have not with James and John desireth that fire might come from heaven to consume them that refused Jesus Christ, Luke xi. 54. But it is the preventing of the eternal fire that I have been all this while endeavouring: And O that it had been a needless work? that God and conscience might have been as willing to spare me this ⟨p. 126⟩labour, as some of you could have been. Dear friends, I am so loth that you should lie in everlasting fire, and be shut out of heaven, if it be possible to prevent it, that I shall once more ask you, what do you now resolve? Will you turn or die? I look upon you as a physician on his patient, in a dangerous disease, that saith to him, though you are far gone, take but this medicine, and forbear but those few thing• that are hurtful, to you, and I dare warrant your life; but if you will not do this, you are but a dead man. What would you think of such a man, if the physician, and all the friends he hath, cannot persuade him to take one medicine to save his life, or forbear one or two poisonous things that would kill him? This is your case. As far as you are gone in sin, do but now turn and come to Christ, and take his remedies, and your soul• shall live. Cast up your deadly sins by repentance, and return not to the poisonous vomit any more, and you shall do well. But yet if it were your bodies that we had to deal with, we might partly know what to do for you. Though you would not consent, yet you might be held or bound, while the medicine were poured down your throats, and hurtful things might be kept from you. But about your souls it cannot be so, we cannot convert you against your wills. There is no carrying madmen to heaven in fetters. You may be condemned against your wills, because you sinned with your wills; but you cannot be saved against your wills.

And now I am come to the conclusion of this work; my heart is troubled to think how I shall leave you, lest, after this, the flesh should still deceive you, and the world and the devil should keep you asleep, and I should leave you as I found you, till you awake in hell. Though in care of your poor souls, I am afraid of this, as knowing the obstinacy of a carnal heart; yet I can say with the prophet Jeremy, xvii. 16. I have not desired the woeful day, the Lord knoweth. I have not with James and John desireth that fire might come from heaven to consume them that refused Jesus Christ,