FIFTY REASONS. 49. Considet also, that delays are contrary to the very nature of the work, and the nature of your souls themselves. If indeed you ever mean to turn, it is a work of haste, and violence, and diligence, that you must needs set upon. You must "strive to enter in, for the gate is strait, the way is narrow that leads to life, and few there be that find it." "Many shall seek to enter, and shall not be able." " When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and knock at the door, ·saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, he shall answer, I know you not whence you are, depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." It is a race that you are to run, and heaven is the prize. "And you know that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize; and therefore you must so run, as that you may win and obtain." And what is more contrary to this than delay? You are soldiers in fight, and your salvation lieth in the victory; and will you trifle in such a case, when death or life is even at hand? You are travellers to another world, and will you stay till the day is almost past, before you will begin your journey? Christianity is a work of that infinite consequence, and requireth such speedy and vigorous despatch, that delay is more unreasonable in this than in any thing in all the world. 50. If all this will not serve to make you turn, let me tell you, that while you are delaying, your judgment doth not delay; and that when it comes, these delays will multiply your misery, and the remembrance of them will be your everlasting torment. Whatever you are thinking of, or whatever you are doing, your dreadful doom is drawing on apace, and misery will overtake you, before you are aware. When you are in the alehouse, little thinking of ruin, even then is your damnation coming in haste; when you are drowned in the pleasures or cares of the world, your judgment is still h~stening .. You may delay, but it will not delay. It 1s the saymg of.
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