342 DIRECTIONS AND PERSUASIONS you be not willing to hear me ? And would you not believe and regard what 1 should tell you? If I might preach one sermon to you after I am dead, and have seen what is done in the world to come, would you not have me plainly speak the truth, and would you not crowd to hear me? And would you not lay it to heart ? But this must not be ; God has his appointed way of teaching . you ; and he will not humour unbe- lievers so far as to send men from the dead to them, and to alter his established way ; if any man quarrel with the sun, God will not humour him so far as to set him up a clearer light. Friends, I beseech you regard me now, as you would do if I should come from the dead to you ; for I can give you as full assurance of the truth of what I say to you, as if I had been there, and seen it with mine eyes, for it is possible for one from the dead to deceive you ; but Jesus Christ can never deceive you; the word of God delivered in scrip- ture, and sealed up by the miracles and holy workings of the Spirit can never deceive you. Believe this, or believe nothing. Believe, and obey this, or you are undone: now as ever you believe the word of God, and as ever you care for the salvation of your souls, let me beg of you this reasonable request; that you would without further delay, when you are gone hence, remem- ber what you heard, and enter into an earnest search of your hearts, and say to yourselves, Is it so indeed? Must I turn or die? Must I be converted or condemn- ed? Is it time for nee then to look about me, before it be too late. O why did I not look after this till now? Why did I venturously put off so great a business ? Was I awake? O blessed God, what a mercy is it thou didst not cut off my life all this while? Well, God for- bid that I should neglect this work any longer. What state is my soul in? Am I converted, or am I not? Was ever such a work done upon my soul? Have I been illuminated by the word and Spirit of the Lord, to see the odiousness of sin, the need of a Saviour, the love of Christ, and the excellencies of Cod and glory? Is my heart broken, or humbled within me, for my former life? Have I thankfully entert-ined ir,- Saviour and Lord,
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