Before I conclude, I shall propose 3 Six Questions to the Unconverted. Q. 1. What state did my soul come into the world in? Was it not in a state of death? A state of wrath ?2 Sirs, awake, and bethink yourselves where you are, and whither you are going. While you are in your natural, unconverted, unbelieving state, all your sins are unpardoned, and the wrath of God abideth on you. Suppose you saw a poor creature hanging over a burning fiery furnace, by nothing but a slender thread, like to break every moment, would not your hearts ache for such a one? Sirs, it is your very case; you hang over the infernal burnings by nothing but the small thread of your lives, while you know not but it may break the next moment, and then where are you? Is this a case for you to go on contentedly and merrily in? Q. 2. What condition is my soul now in? Am I changed and renewed by conversion, or am I not? Speak, conscience; hath this man, this woman, this child, been soundly and savingly changed, both in heart and life? Where are your evidences ? Can you shew the marks of the Lord Jesus upon your souls? Let your conscience answer. Where was the place? what were the means? when was the time, that your soul was thoroughly renewed? At least, if you cannot shew the time, place, or means, can you prove the thing? Can you say with him that was born lind, one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, I now see ? Sirs, be not deceived; I tell you, whatever you do, nothing will avail you to salvation, except you be new creatures.5 Q. 3. What if I should lose work should I make of it then? Yea, it is the case of the most. 1 Epb. ii. 1. 2 Ibid. ii. 3. Acts iii. 19; John iii. 36 my soul? What sad This is very possible." There are but few of 4 John ix. the children of men that escape safe to heaven.1 Sirs, beware of your danger, and fear lest a promise being left of entering into rest, any of you should at last come short of it. Suppose a man were to travel through some perilous wood or wilderness, having but one jewel in all the world, in which his all was bound up, and should see some stand on one hand, and some on the other, and hear one company in this place, and another in that, cry out under the hands of some cruel robbers; oh, in what fear would this traveller go lest he should lose this jewel, and be robbed of all at once! Why, thou art the man; this traveller is thyself; this jewel is thy soul; this wilderness or wood, is this world thou art to travel through: swarms of sins, legions of devils, and a whole world of temptations; these are the robbers that lie in wait for thy soul; and if all that these can do can keep thee out of heaven, thou shalt never enter there. Oh! what if thy pride or worldliness, thy delays and triflings in religion, should at last betray thy soul into the robbers' hands? Other losses may be repaired; but thy soul being once lost, God is lost, Christ is lost, heaven is lost, all lost for evermore. Q. 4. What do I do for my soul? What! have I a soul, an immortal soul to care for, and look no better after it, and bestow no more of my time or pains upon it, no more of my thoughts about it? When Augustus the emperor saw the outlandish women carrying apes and such kind of strange creatures, in their arms, he asked, What! have the women in these countries no children? So it may be said of many among us, that are early and late at their worldly business, but let the care of religion lay by neglected, What! have these men no souls? Why, man! hast thou a soul, and yet dost so little in thy closet, so little in thy family, from day to day, for it? What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, that thou perish not.3 What 'Matt. vii. 14. 2 Heb. iv. 1. 3 Jonah i. 6. will become of thy soul, if thou lookest to it only at this careless rate? Q. 5. What if God should this night require my soul where would death land me ?1 There was one that promised himself many merry days and years, as it is likely thou dost, but that same night God called for his soul. Sirs, are you prepared? Are you fit to die? O, dare not to live in such a case, nor in that course, in which you would not dare to die. Q. 6. Should I not be in a happy case, if I had_but secured my soul? O if this were but once done, how sweetly mightest thou live! Then thou mightest eat thy bread, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, when assured that God accepteth thee and thy works." Then thou mightest lie down in peace, rise up in peace, and go out in peace. Then thou mightest look death in the face, thou mightest look dangers in the face, yea, look devils in the face, and never be afraid. Go then to Christ, seek the pardon of your sins through his death, commit your soul into his hands, believe in him, and then his happiness shall be yours: but go, I beseech you, without delay. THE CONCLUSION. know your And now, to conclude, let me mind. What do you intend to do ? Will you go on and die, or will you set upon a thorough and speedy conversion, and lay hold on eternal life? How long will ye linger in Sodom? "How long will ye halt between two opinions ?" 3 Have you not yet resolved whether Christ or Barabbas, whether bliss or torment, whether this vain and wretched world, or the Paradise of God, be the better choice? Is it a disputable case, whether the Abana and Pharpar of Damascus be better than all the streams of Eden: or whether the vile puddle of sin is to be preferred before the water of life, clear as 3 1 Kings xviii. 21 Luke xii. 19, 20. 2 Eccl. ix. 7. crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb? Can the world in good earnest do that for you which Christ can n? Will it stand by you to eternity? Will pleasures, land, titles, and treasures, descend with you ?1 If not, had you not need look after somewhat that will? What mean you to stand wavering, to be off and on? Shall I leave you at last, like Agrippa, no farther than almost persuaded? Why, you are for ever lost, if left here! as good be not at all, as not altogether, christians. You are half in mind to give over your former negligent life, and set to a strict and holy course; you could wish you were as some others are, and could do as they can do. How long will you rest in idle wishes and fruitless purposes ? When will you come to a fixed, firm, and full resolve? Do not you see how Satan cheats you, by tempting you to delays? How long hath he drawn you on in the way of perdition? How many years have you been purposing to mend ? What if God should have taken you off all this while. Well, put me not off with a dilatory answer; tell me not of hereafter; I must have your immediate consent: if you be not now resolved, while the Lord is treating with you and inviting you, much less are you like to be hereafter, when these impressions are worn out, and you are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Will you give me your hand? Will you set open the door, and give the Lord Jesus the full and ready possession? Will you put your name unto his covenant ? What do you resolve upon? If you still delay, my labour is lost, and all is likely to come to nothing. Come, cast in your lot; make your choice. "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salva tion: to-day if you will hear his voice." Why should not this be the day whence thou shouldst be able to date thy happiness? Why shouldst thou venture a day longer in this dangerous and dreadful condition? What if God should this night require thy soul! "O 1 Psalm xlix. 17; 1 Tim. vi. 7. that thou mightest know, in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace, before they be hid from thine eyes! This is thy day, and it but a day.2 Others have had their day, and have received their doom, and now art thou brought upon the stage of this world, here to act thy part for the whole of eternity. Remember, thou art now upon thy good behaviour for everlasting; if thou make not a wise choice now, thou art undone for ever. Look, what thy present choice is; such must thine eternal condition be. 66 And is it true indeed? Are life and death at thy choice? Why, then, what hinders but that thou shouldst be happy? Nothing doth or can hinder, but thine own wilful neglect or refusal. It was the remark of the Eunuch to Philip: See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" So I may say to thee, See, here is Christ, here is mercy, pardon, life; what hinders but that thou shouldst be pardoned and saved? One of the martyrs, as he was praying at the stake, had his pardon set by him in a box, which indeed he refused rightly, because upon unworthy terms; but here the terms are most honourable and easy. O sinner! wilt thou burn with thy pardon by thee? do but forthwith give up thy consent to Christ, to renounce thy sins, deny thyself, take up the yoke and the cross, and thou carriest the day; Christ is thine; pardon peace, life, blessedness, are all thine. And is not this an offer worth embracing? Why shouldst thou hesitate or doubtfully dispute about the case? Is it not past controversy whether God be better than sin, and glory than vanity? Why shouldst thou forsake thy own mercy, and sin against thy own life? When wilt thou shake off thy sloth, and lay by thine excuses? "Boast not thyself of to-morrow; thou knowest not" where this night may lodge thee.* Beloved, now the Holy Spirit is striving with you: 1 Luke xix. 42. 2 John ix. 4. 3 Luke x. 42, and xvi. 25; Prov. i. 24-29. 4 Prov. xxvii. 1. |