362 DIRECTIONS AND PERSUASIONS and renounced the world, the flesh, and the devil : this thou hast confirmed by the profession of Christia- nity, and renewed it at sacraments, and in times of affliction : and wilt thou promise and vow, and never perform and turn to God? Lay all these together now. The holy scripture calls upon thee to turn : the Spirit cries Turn: thy con- science cries Turn : the whole world, and all the crea- tures therein, cry Turn : the patient forbearing of God cries Turn : all the mercies thou receivest cry Turn : the rod of God's chastisements cries Turn : and so do all thy promises to God ; and yet thou art not resolved to turn ? 8. Moreover, poor hard - hearted sinner, didst thou ever consider upon what terms thou standest all this while with him who calls on thee to turn ? Thou art his own, and owest him thyself, and all thou hast ; and may he not command his own? Thou art his ab- solute servant, and shouldst serve no other master. Thou standest at his mercy, and thy life is in his hand, and he is resolved to save thee upon no other terms : thou hast many malicious spiritual enemies, who would be glad if God would but forsake thee, and let them alone with thee, and leave thee to their will: how quickly would they deal with thee in ano- ther manner ! And thou canst not be delivered from them, but by turning unto God. Thou art fallen under his wrath by thy sin already : and thou know - est not how long his patience will yet wait. Perhaps this is the last year ; perhaps the last day : his sword is even at thy heart, while the word is in thine ear ; and if thou turn not thou art a dead man. Were thy eyes but open to see where thou standest, even upon the brink of hell, and to see how many thousands are there already, thou wouldst see that it is time to look about thee. O what glad tidings would it be to those that are now in hell, if they had but such a message from God ! What a joyful word it would be to hear this, Turn and live : yea, what a welcome word would it be to thy-
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