554 BAXTER'S FIFTY REASONS. of your life already? Have you not long enough been swallowing the poison of sin ? . And long enough been abusing the Lord that made you, and the blood of the Son of God; that was shed for you, and the Spirit of Grace, that Jtath moved and persuaded you ? Are you not yet gone far enough from God ? and have you nOt yet done enough to the damning of yourselves, and casting away everlasting life? , O wretched sinners! it is rather time for you to fall down on your faces be- fore the Lord, and with tears and groans to lament it day and night, that ever you have gone'so far in sin, and delayed so long to turn to him as you have done. Sure if after so many years rebellion, you are yet so far from lamenting it, that you had rather have more of it, and had rather hold on a little longer, no won- der if God forsake you, and let you alone. 24. Have you any hopes of God's acceptance, and your salvation, or not? If you have such hopes, that when you turn, God will pardon all your sins, and give you everlasting life : is it, think you, an ingenuous thing to desire to offend him yet a little longer, from whom you expect such exceeding mercy, and glory as you do? Have you the faces to speak out what is in your hearts, and practice ? and go to God with such words as these Lord I know I cannot have the pardon of one sin, with- out the blood of Christ, and the riches of thy mercy: nor can I be saved from hell without it : but yet I hope for all this from thy grace; I beseech' thee let me live a little longer in my sins a little longer let me trample on the blood of Christ, and despise thy commandments, and abuse thy mercies ; a little longer let me spit in the face of fhy goodness; and preefèr'the flesh and the. world before thee, and then pardon me all that ever I did, and take me into glory. Could you for shame put such a request to God as this ? 'If you could, you are past shame : if not, ;then do not practise and desire that which you cannot for shame speak out and request. 25: Moreover, it is an exceeding advantage to you, to come unto God betimes ; and an exceeding, loss, that you will suffer by delay, if you were sure to be converted at the last. If you speedily come in, you
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