BAXTER'S FIFTY REASONS. time : you have.the spring and harvest in their proper season's: the former and the latter rain in season. When you are in want, you have seasonable supplies; and when you are in danger, you have seasonable de- liverance: and is it meet or equal that you should re- fuse to bring forth seasonable fruit, but still be putting off God with your delays. 29. Moreover, When you are in trouble and neces- sity, you are then in haste for deliverance and relief: then you think every day a week, till your danger or suffering be past. if you be under the pain of a dis- ease, -or in danger of death, or under poverty, or op- pression, or disgrace, you would have God relieve you without delay ; and yet you will not turn to him with- out delay. Then you are ready to cry out, How long, Lord,, how long till deliverance come? But you will not hear God, when he crieth to you in your sins: How long will it be ere you turn from your transgres- sions;, when shall it once be? When You are to re- ceive any outward deliverance, you care not how soon; the sooner the better : but when you are to turn to God, and receive his grace, and title to glory, then you care not how late, as if you had no mind of it. Can you for ,shame beg of God to hasten your deliver- ance; when you remember your delays, and still con- tinue to trifle with him and draw back? - 30. Your present prosperity, and worldly delights, are posting away without delay ; and should you delay to make sure of better in their stead ? Time is going; and health is going; youth is going; yea,life is going; your riches are taking wing; your fleshly pleasures do perish in .the very using : your meat and drink is sweet to you little longer than it is in your throat. Shortly you must part with house, and lands, with goods, and .friends, and all your mirth, and earthly business will, be done. All this y ou know, and yet will you delay to lay up a durable treasure, which you may trust upon, and to provide you a better tenement before you be turned out of this.? What will you do for an habita- tion, for pleasures and contents, when all that you have now is spent and gone, and earth will afford you 557
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=