92 MISERY OF THOSE WHO [Chap. 6. many a warning of God ; wilt thou do so by this also ? Take heed ; God will not always stand warning and threat- ening. The hand of revenge is lifted up, the blow is com- ing, and wo to him on whom it lighteth ! Dost thou throw away the book, and say it speaks of nothing but hell and damnation ? Thus thou usedst also to complain of the preacher. But wouldst thou not have us to tell thee of these things ? Should we be guiltyof the blood of thy soul, by keeping silent that which God hath charged us to make known ? Wouldst thou perish in ease and silence, and have us to perish with thee, rather than displease thee by speaking the truth ? If thou wilt be guilty of such inhu- man cruelty, God forbid we should be guilty of such sot- tish folly ! This kind of preaching or writing is the ready way to be hated ; and the desire of applause is so natural, that few delight in such a displeasing way. But consider, are these things true, or are they not ? If they were not true, I would heartily join with thee against any that fright people without a cause. But if these threatenings be the word of God, what a wretch art thou, that wilt not hear it and consider it ! If thou art one of the people of God, this doctrine will be a, comfort to thee, and not a terror. If thou art yet unregenerate, methinks thou shouldst be as fearful to hear of heaven as of hell, except the bare name of heaven or salvation be sufficient. Preaching heaven and mercy to thee is entreating thee to seek them, and not reject them ; and preaching hell is but to persuade thee to avoid it. If thou wert quite past hope of escaping it, then it were in vain to tell thee of hell; but as long as thou art alive, there is hope of thy recovery, and therefore all means must be used to awake thee from thy lethargy. Alas ! what heart can now possibly conceive, or what tongue express, the pains of those souls that areunder the wrath of God ! Then, sinners, you will be crying to Jesus Christ, " O mercy ! O pity, pity on a poor soul !" Why, I do now, in the name of the Lord Jesus, cry to thee, " O have mercy, have pity, man, upon thy own soul!" Shall God pity thee, who wilt not be entreated to pity thyself ? If thy horse see but apit before him, thou canst scarcely force him in ; and wilt thou so obstinately cast thyself in- to hell, when the danger is foretold thee ? " Who can tan.d before the indignation of the Lord ? and who can
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