560 BAXTER'S FIFTY REASONS. the Devil himself ? If Satan or his servants persuade you to sin, you delay not so long but you are presently at it. You are ready to follow every tipling companion, or gamester that púts up the finger. You are as willing to go, as they are to invite you The very sight of the cup, loth presently prevail with the drunkard ; and the sight of his filthy mate, prevaileth with the fornicator;: and sin can be presently entertained without delay. But when God comes, when Christ calls, when the Spirit moveth, when the minister persuadeth, when corsoience is convinced, we can have nothing after all, but wishes, and purposes, and promises, with delays. Nay more than this, so eager are they on their sin, that we are not able to entreat them to delay it. When the passionate man is but provoked, we cannot persuade him to delay his railing language, so long as to consider first of the issue. We cannot entreat the drunkard to put off his drunkenness but for' one twelvemonth, while he trieth another course : all the ministers in the coun- try cannot persuade the worldling to forbear his world- liness, and the proud persons their pride, and the un- godly person his ungodliness, for the space of one month, or week, or day. And yet when God bath a command, and request to them, to turn to him, and be saved, here they can delay, without our entreaty. 36. Consider also, that it is not possible for you to turn too soon : nor will you ever have cause to repent of your speediness. Delay may undo you; but speedy turning can do you no harm : I wonder what hurt you think it can do you, to be quickly reconciled to God. And why then should ,there be any delay, where it is not possible to be too hasty ? Do you think that there is ever a saint in heaven, yea or on earth either, that is sorry he continued not longer unconverted ? No you shall never hear of such a repentance from the mouth of any that is indeed converted. 37. But I must tell you on the contrary, that if ever you be so happy as to be converted, you will repentit,. and an hundred tines repent it, that y6u delayed so long before you yielded. O, how it will grieve you, when your hearts are melted with the love of God ! and are
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