hinder thee 2. This Day of Grace is exceeding precious This is the very flower and cream of time What 's the reason the Psalmist begs the Lord would teach him to number his dayes aright Psal 90. 12. What 's the reason one Apostle exhorts See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time Eph. 5. 15 16. and another advises Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1. 17. Surely these holy men saw more in time then most in the world are aware of they were sensible the present time contains the Day of Grace and that eternal Glory must now be got or lost for ever If there were no hope at all of being reconciled unto God of obtaining mercy and finding grace alass our time would be of no value But we may without prejudice to truth affirm that time is more precious then gold for now only Christ who is so precious is to be received now only the Soul which is so precious is to be secured The Apostle calls this the accepted time and the day of salvation If now we come the Lord will accept us and give his Son himself and freely all things to us and Salvation which since we are lost we so much need shall not be denied This Salvation is called Salvation of the Soul Heb. 10. 39. The better part the Jewel which the Destroyer principally aims at and designs to make his prey is secured This salvation also is affirmed to be great everlasting and salvation to the uttermost From the greatest evils the heirs of salvation are delivered everlastingly delivered and that good work which is begun in them shall be perfected to the uttermost and all of them shall stand in Glory as so many Monuments of Power and Mercy and Grace unto Eternity And is not the Day of Grace precious since a day of such salvation 3. This Day of Grace is a Day of Power Psal 110. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power The Arm of the Lord is now revealed in making the report of the Gospel to be believed the same power is exerted in raising a sinner to the life of faith that was shewn in raising up Jesus our Lord from the dead Strong holds are pull'd down reasonings against Religion as if it were either absurd or intollerably burthensom are silenced Those lusts which before bare all the sway have a deadly wound which shall not be healed again Sins dominion is overthrown and the world is overcome 't is now under foot which used to have its seat in the very heart Thus believers find this day a day of power They are powerfully drawn to Jesus Christ and as powerfully upheld and supported by him And of this power the ungodly are not without some taste and experience Mighty convictions and restraints for a while they have but by degrees they grow stupid and get loose again and then fulfil their fleshly and their worldly lusts with the greater eagerness just as water being dam'd up when that restraint is taken away doth run with greater strength and speed for having been restrained 4. This Day of Grace it is but one when this is gone another is not to be expected In Nature there is a vicissitude of day and night even at midnight 't will not be many hours before the morning and the light return Soles occidere redire possunt but the night which follows after the Day of Grace is everlasting The abused light of the Gospel will be followed with that which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The blackness of darkness for ever Life indeed will return again at the general resurrection but another season of mercy will not be vouchsafed The Day of Grace is like the Dove which Noah sent the third time out of the Ark when once 't is flown away 't will return no more What mean the careless world to sport and play and sin away this golden season Every moment that slips by you is irrevocable and 't is but a little while and the whole stock will be spent of this accepted time Oh improve some of it at least before it be all gone If after death you were certain to be sent into the world again and to hear the joyful sound of the Gospel again and that the Lord again would try you and wait that he might be gracious then present carelessness were not altogether so much without apology But since immediately upon your dissolution you must go to your long your eternal home either of weal or wo oh let Eternity which is just at the door be provided for before this your day be ended Thus you have the Properties of the Day of Grace In the fourth place I am to lay down the Reasons why such a Day of Grace is granted Several reasons of this may be assigned 1. One shall be drawn from the Son's Incarnation and taking our nature on him Hence it comes to pass that unto man such kindness is expressed The Apostle sayes Verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. He was made in the likeness of men therefore mankind is the dearer to him There is a difference put between apostate Angels and fallen men I speak even of those that through their own wickedness and folly miss of salvation The reprobate Angels never had a remedy provided nor a Day of Grace afforded Christ assumed not their nature but as soon as ever they had sinned they fell like lightning suddenly in the twinkling of an eye from Heaven to Hell But man was not thus dealt with even those whom the Apostle calls Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction are yet endured with much long-suffering Rom. 9. 22. Their salvation is in it self really possible I say in it self though all things consider'd there is an impossibility of any other event then the destruction of sinners continuing in their rebellions and this real possibility of salvation will make them cast the whole blame of their perdition on themselves that the day of salvation was trifled away and the salvation of that day was neglected This matter may be made more obvious and plain by a similitude The Apostle Paul Acts 27. admonisheth the Centurion who was to conduct him to Rome that the voyage they were about to make would be with much damage and hurt not only of the lading and ship but also of their lives Who can deny that the tarrying in the Haven where they were and where they might have been in safeguard was in it self really possible and they could not reasonably lay the blame of their shipwrack on Gods decree and determination but upon their own rashness In like manner sinners are admonished that if they go on in wickedness 't will be to their hurt and eternal damage not only of their lives but also of their souls Who can deny that the abstaining from such and such sins
the world are blind As Moses speaks they are void of counsel neither have they any understanding in them they are not wise to consider their latter end Deut. 32. 28 29. nor the worth of that gracious season in which alone preparation can be made for it And shall we write after the Coppies which a company of fools set us Shall we follow the blind that quickly will fall into the ditch and have not eyes to see their danger 2. The most are unbelieving a froward generation children in whom there is no faith and from this root of infidelity doth spring their prodigallity of the day of Grace Did they indeed believe that death will not make an end of them but that after this is finished another life will follow either of the greatest joy or of as great sorrow and that joy or sorrow in the next world will be their lot according as the present season is or is not improved certainly they would be more sparing of that which is so precious Oh the secret paganisme that is in the hearts of multitudes they live as if Eternity were a fiction and Hell a fable but will it be thought a fable when they feel the tortures of it And what shall we tread in the steps of such Infidels No we are to follow not the unbelief but the faith of others Heb. 13. 7. Whose faith follow considering the end of theâ—r conversation 3. Are not many who are such spend-thrifts of this Day of Grace self-condemned How often doth Conscience reproach them for their spiritual sloth and 't is very unreasonable to go in that way which they themselves do frequently condemn themselves for Idleness is is a sin which leaves behind it a great deal of regret and dissatisfaction in the heart 't is common for the slothful to hear a voice behind them saying Time is a treasure that ought not to be thus foolishly and to no purpose wasted USE III. Of Exhortation Let me perswade all to a serious improvement of this day of their gracious visitation The Arguments to prevail are these 1. This day is continually passing Your glass is running every moment whether you sleep or wake are in company or alone are vain or serious do pray or sin it never stands still And when once your glass is run 't will never be turn'd again but taken down immediately Your dayes are but an hand-breadth and whether of this hand-breadth there be an inch remaining is a question Time is not unfitly pictur'd with wings because it flies so fast away and bald behind because you cannot catch hold of it to pull it back The best part of this day is usually at first if we seek unto the Almighty betimes Job 8. 5. we are the more sure to find him and this should engage you to a more speedy trading with this precious talent 2. You all must be reckoned with how you have husbanded this gracious season Oh what a case will the slothful soul be in when death gives him a summons and he hears that word Render an account of thy stewardship for thou mayst be no longer steward Conscience must needs very much amaze the sinner when it shall before the Judge bring in such Indictments as these against him So much of this day of savation was spent in immoderate recreations So much in carnal and ungodly company So much in eager pursuing after the deceitful riches and pleasures of this world So much in making provision for the flesh that the vile and base lusts of it might be fulfilled So much in proud and towring imaginations So much in amorous and filthy musings So much in vain and rotten communication So much in Taverns and Ale-houses and in the Harlots habitations So much in tricking and adorning the body And Christ and the soul were all the mean while neglected and forgotten Often ask thy self this question Do I spend my Day of Grace after such a manner as I may account for it at last with comfort Such thoughts would make you serious 3. Let the diligence of the earthly minded in improving the worlds day shame you out of your idleness in this day of salvation If the greedy tradesman hears of an excellent bâ—rgâ—m what madness doth he count it to neglect the season wherein he may have it He that is covetous of preferment 't is no sooner offer'd then accepted Oh say such We must catch occasion by the fore-lock we may never have the like again Alas that men should be so wise in trifles and such fools in the greatest matters Now is the time of preferment you may be advanced to the dignity of Children and Heirs of God Now is the time to grow rich towards God to lay up such a treasure ' that will never fail that none can take away from you 4. Let the apprehensions which others have of this Day of Grace be consider'd by you Here I shall bring several Speakers upon the Stage delivering what their judgments and thoughts are 1. Hearken to the awakened Soul whose eyes are newly forced open by the Spirit Surely I am more brutish then any I have not the understanding of a man Many years I have liv'd and as many I have lust in sin and folly A treasure I have been entrusted with but I have been cheated of it by a deceitful heart a deceitful world and a subtle Serpent I remember opportunities have followed thick one upon another of getting grace but none were laid hold upon There was nothing I slighted more then that which least of all deserv'd my slighting Oh that my past dayes could be again recall'd they should be spent after another fashion But instead of that what cause have I to fear that the Lord may allow no more time since that which he hath allowed hath been so unprofitably consumed 2. Hearken to the serious Christian How great a work have I to do and how short a time to do it in How vast is eternity which depends upon this moment Lord the world is not worth my time and pains in comparison of thy self and that Grace and Glory which thou hast revealed Now is the time to fly from the vengeance of eternal fire and to gain the life that 's â—verlasting and to scape the one and gain the other shall be my lifes main business 3. Hearken to a rouzed sinner just going out of the world Oh! my head doth ake my heart is sick my eyes are dim my breath is short a general trembling seises on me and all do shew that this earthly house of my tabernacle is upon the point of being dissolved And must I now be forced away O my soul to what place art thou removing Hark! I hear a dreadful sound within Conscience speaks language full of horrour Alas Is the sentence now past Cut down the tree that brought forth none but evil fruit Must I go presently to the Bar of God who have nothing but provoked him all my dayes May I not
wisdom and then we see the way of reconciliation He is made unto us righteousness sin is no longer imputed and that quarrel which Justice had with us comes to an end He is made unto us sanctification and then the holiness of God ceases to be our enemy and we no longer hate that holiness there is a sweet agreement between our renewed nature and an holy God and his holy Law which he would have us walk according to They that are sanctified in Christ Jesus love God because of his holiness and they love the Word of God upon the same score Psal 119. 139 140. My zeal hath consumed mâ— because mine enemies have forgotten thy words Thy Word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it Finally Christ is made unto us redemption that 's a fourth benefit reckoned up by the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 30. He makes us free indeed because he frees us from that which is slavery indeed he delivers us from the bondage of corruption and causes us to become the servants of God and righteousness Rom. 6. And now we are reconciled to Gods Soveraignty and Authority we own him as our Lord who as he hath right to rule us so 't is our honour our advancement our freedom to be ruled by him 2. As we must know who is our Peace-maker so what are the conditions of our peace 1. One condition is godly sorrow And as the Lord doth grant us peace so he himself doth work this and the other conditions of it If we will be reconciled we must mourn for our offending and provoking God to be an enemy The eye of the body can look every way but inward and shall the eye of our mind never look inward neither Were our hearts but more acquainted with themselves they would be more broken and contrite hearts How deeply is the Law of sin engraven there and this Law of sin forbids whatever the Law of God commands and commands whatever the Law of God forbids The most venemous creature is not more full of poyson then our hearts are full of enmity against the Lord and reprobateness to what is good This corruption of our nature is not a thing which hath layn dormant and idle no but as a Fountain perpetually sends forth water so from the heart proceed evils abundantly whereby the man is defiled 'T is difficult to reckon up the sins of one day or of one duty and how vast then is the total sum of our whole lives abominations Oh break hard heart for shame who hast so often broken the most equal laws and broken thorow so many obligations to obedience If thâ— offending God be made light of this will anger him more then all thy other offences 2. Another condition of our Peace is Believing When the Jaylour was under the sense of Gods anger and wrath and tortur'd with the fears of damnation and cry'd out What shall I do to be saved Paul and Silas made this answer Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16. 30 31. How much is faith preached up in the Gospel and unto Christ our faith is directed for 't is in him that God is well pleased and 't is through that beloved Son alone that he will be at peace and well pleased with us If we expect favour or mercy any other way but through Jesus that very expectation is sufficient to be an eternal impediment to our obtaining of either The Lord hath made Faith one great condition of our peace and salvation for two reasons 1. Man being thus reconciled and saved by believing all the glory redounds to God alone Mans boasting is utterly excluded The hand of faith is an empty hand it brings nothing along with it but it receives Christ and with him and from him freely all thâ—ngs Faith exalts Christ and abases the sinner and makes him see that he is wretched and miserable and poor and naked and that to Christ he must be beholding for every thing he must thank himself for nothing Man being thus reconciled and saved by believing his peace with God is lasting his salvation sure Rom. 4. 16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure Adam was at peace with God when first created but since the continuance of his peace depended upon the constancy of his obedience peace and life were soon lost by him But faith puts our peace and salvation in the hands of another in the hands of Christ he undertakes to be the finisher of our faith Heb. 12. 2. He hath promised to keep us from falling and to confirm us to the end 1 Cor. 1. 8. And the believer rests upon this word of promise which will never fail him That 's the second condition of peace believing 3. Another condition is Conversion with the whole heart to God How often doth the Spirit cry out Turn and liveâ— And though the Lord was bitterly provoked yet upon his peoples returning he promises to be pacified Jer. 3. 12. Go and proclaim these words towards the North and say Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep anger for ever Our returning to him must be without delay without deceit we must not divide our hearts between him and sin between him and Mammon but we must consent to be wholly his and never to leave him any more but if through infirmity we do fall we must look unto the Lord to pity and pardon and heal and raise us To turn away from God so as not to return is inconsistent with peace Thus you know these things which are the conditions of your peace let me add Happy are ye if ye do them 3. It concerns us to know how we may attain to an assurance of Peace The soul indeed may be safe without this assurance but withall 't will be disconsolate Now 't is the Spirit who makes this discovery We read Rom. 14. 17. of peace and joy in the holy Ghost Peace and joy are the fruits of this blessed Comforter In Scripture the Saints are said to be sealed by the Spirit unto the day of redemption Ephes 4. 30. And their being thus sealed as it denotes their distinction from the rest of the world their being appropriated unto God and the value that is put upon them so it serves to confirm them in that perswasion That God is theirs and they are his There is indeed a privy Seal of his gracious Decree of which the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his But afterwards when the Spirit works upon us we are sealed in a more discernable way Now the work and method of the Spirit in sealing and bringing those who are reconciled unto an assurance of peace I shall declare 1. The Spitit convinces us of
Though the command of Christ be express to search the Scriptures Jeh 5. 39. Though the Apostle Paul sayes Let th◠Word dwell in you richly Colos 3. 16. Though Timothy from his childhood wa◠admitted to and made acquainted with the Scriptures which made him wise t◠salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. Though Chrysostom with whom the other Fathers generally as to this particular agree doth tell us Hom. 9. in Epist ad Col. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That all evils are caused by the Scriptures ignorance Yet unto how many under Popery are the Scriptures denied It was thus in this our Land not many scores of years ago Romish darkness as thick here as in other places But now the Bushel is taken off from the Lamp of the Word all may be enlightned and directed by it which foolishly shut not their eyes against it You have the Word in your houses in your hands oh that it were in more heads and hearts You may daily have recourse to this Word for counsel for quickning and comfort and if you will but give up your selves to it that Promise shall assuredly be fulfilled Prov. 6. 22. When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou awakest it shall talk with thee As the Word doth guide and guard them that entertain it so it talks with them it tells them of such things as draw forth their desires inflame their love put them upon labour and fill them with unspeakable joy 2. You have this Word opened and applied by the ministry of the Gospel Ministers are yet with you and that 's a great priviledge for with them Christ hath promised to be alwayes to the end of the world Matth. 28. ult 'T is their business to divide the Word and to give to every one his portion They foresee the storm and warn the wicked to turn and fly unto a place of refuge they encourage those who have true though but weak grace and shew how those Promises and Comforts which they hear of belong to them though they are so apt to thrust them away from themselves Ministers they do both bind and loose they bind the impenitent and unbelieving sinner under the curse under wrath and he is bound in Heaven for the sentence that the Gospel passes upon him is in Heaven ratified But if the impenitent soul is broken mourns for sin loaths it leaves it if the unbelieving sinner which before rejected Christ receives him then Ministers have commission to loose him whom before they bound and he is loosed in Heaven whom the Word declares justified to be sure the God of Heaven hath acquitted And truly Ministers bind with this design that afterwards they may loose they denounce threats that sinners being awakened and contrite they may apply the Promises These Ambassadours of Christ come and intreat you to be reconciled unto God and as they inform you upon what articles he will be at peace with you so they use many arguments to work upon your consciences and affections they will not let you alone in your vanity but Sabbath after Sabbath cry to you and tell you that when you rush into sin you rush into a battel and 't is against that great God who must needs be too hard for you Who ever fought with him and got any thing but blows wounds and death Who ever hardned himself against him and prospered Job 9. 4. They are ever commending Jesus Christ to you and declaring how able and how willing he is to save you and how certain you are to be damn'd without him And is it not a priviledge to be thus importuned for your own good to have blessedness and life in a manner obtruded and forc'd upon you Now Messengers of Peace are sent in this Day of Grace now glad tidings are brought that God is willing to be reconciled but when once you come to the Region of darkness below such tidings will never come to your ears more The greatness of this priviledge to enjoy the Word will further appear if the admirable effects of the Word of God are duly considered 1. The Word of God doth make the simple wise Psal 119. 130. The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple Those whom Satan before befool'd putting them off with husks instead of what is solid and satisfying are by the Word made too wise for this subtle Serpent Now they are undeceived and perceive how little fruit they have had of their evil works therefore they are ashamed of them and of their own folly in giving way to them The Word discovers the pearl of price to them and makes them wise Merchants they sell all to purchase it This wisdom which the Word infuses is not of this world nor of the Princes of this world which come to nought 1 Cor. 2. 6. The great ones of the earth may be prudent in chusing and ordering the means for the attaining of the end which they aim at but in the choice of their end they discover the greatest simplicity All that greatness and glory which they design and themselves also will come to nought Death will certainly and speedily contract all their honour and power and cover it with those two words Hic jacet Here it all lies buried But the wisdom which the Word imparts makes us to look higher at a better and more enduring substance at an inheritance which never fades away And the Word shews how by sanctification we may be prepared for that inheritance and those who are made meet to be so shall at length be made partakers of it While the Day of Grace lasteth thou mayst be made wise to salvation but if this be not improved in the greatness of thy folly thou shalt go astray and dye without instruction Prov. 5. 23. 2. This Word doth raise the dead to life That Voice Arise ye dead and come to Jesus must needs be powerful since upon it follows the first Resurrection John 5. 25. Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live At the hearing of this Word of God the Conscience which was before stupid is startled the heart that was all of stone becomes a heart of flesh it is tender and sensible it feels the weight of sin and of the curse and longs to be freed from both though before it matter'd neither A new principle of grace is put into the Soul whereby it is inclined towards God and acts for him The Lord is breathed after and there is a desire to please him now as there was formerly to please the flesh by fulfilling the lusts of it O dismal state to lye dead in sin to be senseless and unconcern'd under such a load But that 's a life indeed to be alive to God And while this day of salvation continues thou maist be questioned but if this be lost the second
the whole Covenant shall be made good to them if their unbelief of Gods power and truth be not an hinderance 4. Now in this Day of Grace the great High-priest stands ready to intercede for us Never any sincerely begg'd for pardon and for grace but Christ pray'd that Prayer over again and a gracious return was made to it The Spirit also is ready to help infirmities to fill our hearts with such desires as shall be surely satisfied and truly we have to do with a God who of the best things which are most needful most desirable is alwayes most liberal Now are the mollia fandi tempora the times to speak and speed but when this gracious season is gone ah then the loudest cries will be in vain God will hear Christ will intercede the Spirit help no more 4. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is this That now the way is open to the Kingdom As you may come to the Throne of Grace so 't is possible to get into the Throne of Glory Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Our Lord doth stand as it were with a Crown of Life in his hand and sayes Believe in me and continue faithful to the death and this Crown shall be put upon your heads The Kingdom is offered and the sure way to the Kingdom is revealed Life and Immortality are brought to light by the Gospel that is such a blessed and glorious life as will never by death have a period and if you cease to do evil learn to do well and patiently continue in well-doing this eternal life shall assuredly be given you The foolish Virgins had a Day oâ— Grace as well as the wise The Bridegroom came and the door was open iâ— they had been ready they might have entred but having lost the opportunity they knocked at last but it was too late the door was shut and they were sent away with I know you not Matth. 25. We read of a Ladder that reached from earth to heaven now there is a possibility of climbing up thither But there is no Ladder that reaches from hell to heaven If this present day of salvation be lost salvation it self also will be lost for ever 5. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is this That during this season the state of the wicked is not unalterable 'T is true the Holy Ghost expresly sayes that impenitent and unbelieving ones are condemn'd already Joh. 3. 18. Sentence of condemnation is past but it may be repealed if they at last are brought to mourn for their rejecting of a Saviour and with their hearts believe in the Name of the only begotten Son of God the consequent of this faith will be freedom from condemnation Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit There was condemnation heretofore to them as well as to others but now there is none for they are in Christ and shew it by renouncing the lusts and works of the flesh and giving themselves up to the Spirits guidance They whom sin hath set at a great distance from Christ are called to come to him and while this Day of Grace lasts that word holds good I will in no wise cast out But when this day is done then 't will be I will in no wise receive The Lamb himself then will be full of wrath and that 's dreadful The Lamb can pacifie the anger of God but who can appease the Lambs anger When the only Reconciler is himself irreconcileable when the only Intercessour is inexorable when the only Saviour punisheth with everlasting destruction what hope of help remains then But as yet 't is possible for Rebels to obtain a pardon and to be made children Though thou hast sinn'd thy self near to hell yet thou hast not sinn'd thy self into hell Though sin hath abounded if thou art brought by the entring of the Law to a sence how thy offences have abounded Grace will much more abound Rom. 5. 20. The Lord hath turn'd and chang'd as bad as the worst of you and that which hath been done may be done again since his hand is as mighty to save and his Grace as free as ever I have done with the priviledges of this Day of Grace In the third place follow the properties of it which are these 1. This Day of Grace is uncertain as to its duration 't is more uncertain then the day of life for that may end before this doth Nay the Day of Grace may be past while the very means of Grace continue The acceptable time was pass'd with the Jews when the Prophet was sent to preach among them Hark what a sad Commission he had Isa 6. 9 10. Go make the heart of this people fat make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and convert and be healed 'T is dreadful when the Word shall make the ear more deaf and the Light the eye more blind and awakening means the heart more gross and stupid The Sons of Eli had outstood their day and yet after this their Father admonishes them and endeavours to reclaim them They were lascivious and made themselves vile and Eli said 'T is no good report I hear of you my sons ye make the Lords people to transgress If one man sin against another the Judge shall judge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their Father because the Lord would slay them When Drunkards Sorcerers Liars Whoremongers Worldlings are reproved often and will not hearken who knows but the season of mercy may be ended and the Lord intends to slay them to damn them And if at the hearing of this they are unconcern'd there is greater cause to fear though we cannot absolutely conclude that 't is so indeed The day of grace is uncertain the means of grace may be before you are aware removed The golden Candlestick doth not stand so fast in any place as that 't is impossible it should be took away Tremble at that threatning uttered to the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 5. I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent And although Ordinances remain a blessing may be withheld from them Thou doest not know but every call may be the last time of asking and Christ may for ever after hold his peace and therefore presently give consent to be espoused to him thou dost not know but that every motion of the Spirit may have his last striving with thee and if thou still resistest the Spirit may take his leave and say Foolish Soul go on in sin go on to hell I will not strive any more to