i:i 162 THE DUTY OF GOD'S PEOPLE sins they should reprove, and this makes them ashamed to reprove. Another is, a secret infidelity prevailing in men's hearts. Did we verily believe, that all the unregenerate and unholy shall be eternally tormented, limy could we hold our tongues, or avoid bursting into tears, when we look them in the face, especially when they are our near and dear friends ? Thus doth secret unbelief consume the vigour of each grace and duty. O Christians, if you did verily be- lieve that your ungodly neighbours, wife, husband, or child, should certainly lie for ever in hell, except they be thoroughly changed before death shall snatch them away, would not this make you address them day and night till they were persuaded? Were it not for this cursed unbelief, our own and our neigh- bours' souls would gain more by us than they do. These attempts are also much hindered by our want of charity and compassion for men's souls. We look on miserable souls, and pass by, as the priest and Levite by the wounded man. What though the sinner, wounded by sin, and captivated by Satan, do not desire thy help himself: yet his misery cries aloud. If God had not heard the cry of our miseries, before he heard the cry of our prayers, and been moved by his own pity, before he was moved by our importunity, we might long have continued the slaves of Satan. You will pray to God for them to open their eyes, and turn their hearts; and why not endeavour their conversion, if you desire it? And if you, do not desire it, why do you ask it ? Why do you not pray them to consider and return, as well as pray to God to convert and turn them ? If you should see your neighbour fallen into a pit, and should pray to God to help him out, but neither put forth your hand to help him, nor once direct him to help him- self, would not any man censure you for your cruelty and hypocrisy : It is as true of the soul as the body. If any man seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? or what love hath he to his
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