THE UNCONVERTED. 99 God was wholly unreconciled, as being not satisfied for the violation of his law; but now he is so far satisfied and reconciled, as that he hath made thee a free act of oblivion, and a free deed of gift of Christ and life, and offereth it to thee, and entreateth thee to accept it; and it may be thine, if thou wilt. For, "he was in Christ reconciling the world himself, and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation." 2 Cor. v. 18, 19. Sinners, we too are commanded to deliver this message to you all, as from the Lord: "Come, for all things are ready." Luke xiv. 17. Are all things ready, and are you unready? God is ready to entertain you, and pardon all that you have done against him, if you will but come. As long as you have sinned, as wilfully as you have sinned, he is ready to cast all behind his back, ifyou will but come. Though you have been prodigals, and run away from God, and have staid so long, he is ready even to meet you, and embrace you in his arms, and rejoice in your conversion, if you will but turn. Even the worldlings and drunkards will find God ready to bid them welcome, ifthey will but come. Doth not thif; turn thy heart within thee? 0 sinner! if thou hast a heart of flesh, and not of stone in thee, methinks this should melt it. Shall the dreadful infinite Majesty of heaven even wait for thy retuming, and be ready to receive thee, who hast abused him, and forgotten him so long? Shall he delight in thy conversibn, that might at any time glorify his justice in thy damnation? and yet doth it not melt thy heart within thee, and art thou not yet ready to come in? Hast thou not as much reason to be ready to come, as God hath to invite thee and bid thee welcome? But that is not all: Christ bath done his part on the cross, and made such way for thee to the Father, that, on his account, thou mayst be welcome, if thou wilt come. And yet art thou not ready? A pardon is already expressly granted, and offered thee in the Gospel. And yet art thou not ready?
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