Baxter - HP BV4920 B38 1829

110 A CALL TO that, it is most true which God here teacheth us, that the cause why the wicked die is, because they will die. And this is true in several respects. 1. Because they will go the way that leads to hell, although they are told by God anJ man whither it goes and whither it ends; and though God hath so often professed in his word, that if they hold on in that way they shall be condemned; and that they shall not be saved unless they turn, Isa. xlviii. ~~. lvii. ~1. li:x. 8, "There is no peace, saith the Lord, to the wicked." "The way of peace they know not; there is no judgment in their goings; they have made them crooked paths. Whosoever goeth therein, shall not know peace." They have the word and the oath of the living God for it, that if they will not turn, they shall not enter into his rest: and yet, wicked they are, and wicked they will be, let God and man say what they wil1: fleshly they are, and fleshly they will be, worldlings they are, and worldlings they will be, though God hath told them that the love of the world is enmity to God, and that if any man love the world (in that measure) the love of the Father is not in him. James iv. 4.; 1 John ii. 15.; so that consequently these men are willing to be damned, though not directly; they are willing to walk in the way to hell, and love the certain cause of their torment; though they do not will hell itself, and do not love the pain which they must endure. Is not this the truth of your case, sirs? You would not burn in hell, but you will lrindle the fire by your sins, and cast yourselves into it; you would not be tormented with devils for ever, but you will do that which will certainly procure it in despite of all that can be said against it. It is just as if you would say, 'I will drink this ratsbane, or other poison, but yet I will not die. I will cast myself headlong from the top of a steeple, but yet I will not kill myself. I will thrust this knife into my heart, but yet I will not take away my life. I will put this fire into the thatch of my house, but yet I will not burn

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