562 BAXTER'S FIFTY REASONS. and cannot you allow as much to the God of wisdom ? 40. Consider also, that the speediness of your conver- sion, when God first calls you, doth make you the more welcome, and is a thing exceeding pleasing to God. Our proverb is, A speedy gift is a double gift : if you ask any thing of a friend, and he give it you presently, and cheerfully at the first asking, you will think you have it with a good will : but if he stand long delaying first; and demurring upon it, you will think you have it with an ill will, and that you owe him the smaller thanks. If a very beggar at your door must stay long for an alms, he will think hé is the less beholden to you. How much more may God be displeased, when he must stay so long for his own,, and that for your benefit? God loveth a cheerful giver; and consequently a cheerful obeyer of his call : and if it be hearty and cheerful, it is the likelier to be speedy, without such delays. 41. And I would desire you but to do with God as you would be done by. Would you take it well of you children if they should tear all their clothes, and cast their meat to the dogs, and tread it in the dirt, and when you entreat them to give over, they will not regard you? Would you stand month after month entreating and waiting on them, as God doth on you in a foolisher course? or rather would you not either soundly whip them, or take their meat from them till hunger teach them to use it better? If your servant will spend the whole ,day and year in drinking and playing, when he should do your work, will you wait on him all the year with entreaties, and pay him at last as if he had served you? And can you expect that God should deal so with you. 42. And consider, I entreat you, that your delay is a denial, and so may God interpret it, for the time of your turning is part of the command. He that saith turn, saith now, even to -day, without delay. He giveth you no longer day : if time be lengthened, and the offer made again and again, that is more than he pro- mised you, or you could have promised yourselves. His command is, Now return and live : and if you refuse the time, the present time, you refuse the offer,
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