Baxter - HP BV4920 B38 1829

NOW OR NEVER. spring and harvest in their season; and all his mer-· cies in their season, and wilt thou not know thy time and season, or love, and duty, and thanks to him? Consider that God, who hath commanded thee thy work, hath also appointed thee thy time. And this is his appointed time. To-day, therefore, hearken to his voice, and see that thou hanlen not thy heart. He that bids thee "repent and work out thy salvation with fear and trembling," doth also bid thee do it now. Obey him in the time, if thou wilt be indeed obedient; he best understandeth the fittest time. One would think to men that have lost so much already, and loitered so long, and are so lamentably behind hand, and stand so near the bar of God, and their everlasting state, there should be no need to sal any more, to persuade them to be up and doing. shall add but this: 'You are never like to have a better time.' Take this, or the work will grow more difficult, more doubtful, if through the just judgment of God, it become not desperate. If all this will not serve, but still you will loiter till time be gone, what can your poor friends do but lament your misery! The Lord knows, if we knew what words, what pains, what cost would tend to your awakening, and conversion, and salvation, we should be glad to submit to it: and we hope we should not think our labours, or liberties, or our lives too dear to promote so blessed and so necessary a work. But if when all this is done that we can do, you will leave us nothing but our tears and moans for self:.destroyers, the sin is yours, and the suffering shall be yours. If I can do no more, I shall leave thifl upon record, that we took our time to tell you, that se1·ious diligence is necessary to yom salvation; and that God is the "Rewarder of them that diligently seek him," and that this was your day, your only day. It must be now or never.

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