218 FIFTY RF.ASON8. knocking at your doors, and seeing all your worldly. comforts are packing up and basting away, methinks you should presently turn, and make sure of heaven, wit?out any more delay. · 31. Consider also, Whether it be equal that you should delay your conversion, when you can seasonably despatch your worldly business; and when your flesh would be provided for, you can hearken to it without delay. You have wit enough to sow your - seed in season, and will not delay it till the time of harvest. You will reap your corn when it is ripe, and gather your fruit when it is ripe, without delay. You observe. the seasons in the course of your l~bE_mrs, day by day, and year by year. You will not l1e m bed, when you should be at your work, nor delay all night to go to your rest; nor suffer your servants to delay your business. If you be sick, you will seek help without delay, lest your disease should grow to be incurable. And yet will you delay your conversion, and the making sure of heaven ? Why, sirs, shall these trifles be done without delay, and shall your salvation be put off? Can you have time for every thi11.g, except that one thing which all the rest are merely to promote, and in comparison of which they are all but dreams? Can you have time .to work, to plough, and sow, and reap, and cannot you have time to prepare for eternal life? Wl)y, sirs, ifyou cannot find time yet to search your hearts, to turn to God~ and prepare for death, give over eating and drinking, and sleeping, and say, you cannot have time for these. You may as wisely say so for these smaller matters, .as for the greater. 32. Moreover, if men offer you conveniences and commodities for your bodies, you will not stand delaying, and need so many persuasions to accept them. If your landlord would for nothing renew your lease; if any man would give you houses or lands, would you delay so long before you would -accept ,them? A beggar at your door will not only
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=