FIFTY REASONS. and make us lose our labour and our hopes? And yet do you not think to pay for this? Many years we have been persuading you but to turn and live, and yet you are unturned; you have been convinced long, and thinking on it; and wishing long, and talking of it; and promising long, and yet it is undone, and here is nothing but delays. We see, while you delay, death takes away one this week, and another the next week, and you are passing into the other world apace; and yet those that are left behind will .take no warning, but still delay: we see that Satan delays not while you delay: he is day and night at work against you: if he seem to make a truce with you, it is that he may be doing secretlv, while you suspect him not: we see that sin delayeth not while you delay; it is working like poison or infection in your bodies, and seizing upon your vital powers; it is every day blinding you more and more, it is hardening your hearts more and more, and searing your consciences, to bring you past all feeling and hope. And must we stand by and see this miserable work with our people's souls, and all be frustrated and rejected by themselves that we do for their deliverance? I pray you deal but fairly with us, and tell us whether ever you will turn or not. If you will not, but are resolved for sin and hell, say so, that we may know the worst; speak out your minds, that we may know what to trust to. But if still you say, you will turn-when wi.ll you do it? You will do it, and you hope you shall: but when? How long would you have us wait yet? Nay, I must tell you, that you even weary God himself. It is his own expression, (Mal. ii. 17. Isa. xliii. 24.) " Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. " (Isa. i. 14.) And I must say to you as the Prophet (Isa. vii. 13.) "Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but you will weary my God also?" Consider what it is that you do. 46. Consider also, that you are at a constant and unspeakable loss every day and hour that you delay
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