BAXTER'S FIFTY REASONS. 555 may have time to learn, and get more understanding in the matters of God, than else can be expected. For knowledge will not be had but by time and study. You may also have time to get strength of grace, when young beginners can expect no more than an infant strength : you may-grow to be men of parts and abili- ties, to be useful in the church, and profitable to those about you, when others cannot go or stand, unless they lean on the stronger for support. If you come in betimes, you may do God a great deal of service ; which in the evening of the day, you will neither have strength nor time to do. You may have time to get assurance of salvation, and to be ready with comfort when death shall call, when a weakling is like to be perplexed with doubts, and fears, and death is like to be terrible, because of his unreadiness. 26. And did you ever consider who and how many do stay for you while you delay ? Do you know who . it is that you make to wait your leisure ? God himself stands over you with the offers of his mercy, as if he thought it long till you return, saying, O that there were such a heart in them ! and when it will once be ? How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity, and scorners delight in scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn ye at my reproof. Deut. v. 29. Jer, xiii. 17. Prov. i. 22. And do you think it wise, or safe; or mannerly, for you to make the God of heaven to wait on you, while you are serving his enemy ? Can you offer God a baser indignity, than to expect that he should sup- port your lives, and feed you, and preserve you, and patiently forbear While you abuse him to his,face, and drudge for the flesh, the world, and the Devil ? Should a worm thus use the Lord that made him ? You will not yourselves hold a candle in your hands, while it burns your own fingers : nor will yóu hold a nettle, nor a wasp in your hand to sting you nor will you keep a dog in your hoùse that it is good for nothing but td snarl at you and bite your children, or worry your sheep : and yet God bath long held up your lives, while instead of light, you have yielded nothing but a stinking snuff; and instead of grapes you have brought
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