204 FIFTY REASONS. calleth you to turn. It is not to a malicious ene~ my, that would do you mischief, but to a gracious God, that is love itself; not to an implacable justice, but to a reconciled Father; not to revenging indignation, but to the embrace of those arms, and the mercy of that compassionate Lord, that is enough to melt the hardest heart, when you find yourself, as the poor returning prodigal, in his bosom, when you deserved to have been under his feet. And will the great and blessed God invite thee to his favour, and wilt thou delay and demur upon the return? The greatest of the angels of heaven are glad of his favour, and value no happiness but the light of his countenance. Heaven and earth are supported by him, and nothing can stand without him. How glad would those very devils be of his favour, that tempt thee to neglect his favour! And wilt thou delay to turn to such a God? Why, man, thou art every minute at his mercy. And yet dost thou delay? There are all things imaginable in him to draw thee. There is nothing that is good for thee, but it is perfectly in him, where thou mayst have it certain and pm·petual. There is nothing in him to give the least discouragement: let all the devils in hell, and all the enemies of God on earth, say the worst they can against his majesty, and they are not able to find the smallest blemish in his absolute holiness, and wisdom, and goodness. And yet wilt thou delay to return? 2. Consider also, to what it is that thou must turn. Not to uncleanness, but to holiness; not to the sensual life of a beast, but to the noble rational life of a man, and the more noble heavenly life of . a Christian; not to an unprofitable worldly toil, but to the most gainful employment that ever the sons of men were acquainted with; not to the deceitful drudgery of sin, but to that godliness which is profitable to all things, " having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come,".
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