BAXTER'S FIFTY REASONS 567 giving your souls, must smart, and smart again, before they are searched and healed to the bottom. And what man of wisdom would make himself such work and sorrow ? Who would travel on an hour longer, that knows he is out of his way, and must come' back again ?' Would you not think him a mad man that would say, I will go a little further, and then' I will turn back ? 48. And methinks'if it were but. this, it would terrify you from your delays ; that it is likely to make5y-our conversion more grievous, if you should have so ,great mercy from God, as after all to be converted. -There is very few escape that are so exceeding long in travail.; but if you come to the birth, it is like to be a double pain. For God must. send either some grievous afflic- tion to fire and frighten-you 'out of your sins, or else some terrible gripes of conscience that should make you groan, and groan again, in the feeling of your folly: The pangs and throes of conscience, in the work of conversion, are far more grievous in some than in others. ' Some are even on the rack, and almost brought beside their wits, and the next step, to des peration, with horror of soul, and the sense of the wrath of God ; so that they lie in doubts and com- plaints many a year together, and think that they are even .forsaken of God. And to -delay y our conversion, is the way to draw on either this or worse. 49. Consider also, that delays are contrary to the very nature of the work, and the nature Of your souls them- selves. If indeed you ever mean to turn, it is a work of haste and violence, and diligence, that you must needs set upon : ' You must strive to enter in, for the gate is strait, the way is narrow that leads to life, and few there be that find it. Many shall seek to enter, and shall not be able,'Luke xiii. 24, 25. ' When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, he shall an= swer, I know you not whence you are, depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity,' verse 27. It is a race that you are to run, andlteaven is the prize. ° And
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