DISCOURSE VIII. 173 have visited him in his own house, could have directed his jour- ney towards his habitation, or have sent for him into the public,. and healed him there. No; our Lord did not chose either of these ways ; but while the man was waiting at the pool, where he had encouragement to hope for a cure, there the Lord found him, and healed him. Let not any presuming sinner therefore, who is sensible of his own unfitness for heaven, dare to continue in a careless indif- ference about so important a concern; Let him not put off his own conscience with this foolish excuse, as It is God must do all in us, and for us, and therefore I will do nothing myself." Dost thou think, O soul, that this will be a sufficient answer to him that shall judge thee in the great and solemn day? May you not expect to hear the Judge reply terribly to such an excuse, " you new sought after this preparation for heaven, and you must be plunged into hell, for which your own rebellion and slothfulness have prepared you." But perhaps you will object again, What can so feeble, so sinful a creature as I am, do towards this divine work ? I answer, Canst thou not separate one quarter of an hour daily to think of thy dreadful circumstances, and thy eternal danger in a sinful and defiled state of soul ? Think of the uncer- tainty of life, and how sudden thy summons may be into the eternal and unchangeable state. Survey thyself in thy sinful condition both of heart and life, and see how unfit thou art for the company of all the holy ones above. Meditate on these thy perilous circumstances, till thy heart be deeply affected therewith; fall down before God in humble acknowledgment of thy former guilt and pollutions : Give up thyself to him with holy solemnity, to have thy heart turned away from every sin, and strongly in- clined to holiness and heaven. Commit thy soul, guilty and defiled a., it is, into the hands of Jesus the Mediator; entrust thy cause with him as an all- sufficient Saviour ; entreat that he would cleanse thee from all thy guilt and pollution, by the blood of his sacrifice, and the grace of his Spirit ; that blood of atone- ment which has procured for sinners pardon and peace with God, and those operations of his grace which may sanctify thy sinful nature. Address thyself to the exalted Saviour for healing influ- ences from his hand to cure all the maladies of thy soul, to form thee after his image, and to make thee a son of God. Pray with holy importunity for this necessary and divine blessing, wait on God in secret and in public; give him no rest night or day ; till he has renewed thy soul, and transformed thee into a new: creature, and given thee a relish of the heavenly enjoyments: Dwell at the throne of grace till thou feelest thy heart drawn up- ward and heavenward, and watch against every thing that would defile thy soul anew, or make thee unfit to enter into the com- pany Of the blessed.
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