S a c T. IX. OfCenvérfvii, or Tieriting unto God ; 411 all thy (ervìce, and power, and retigth, then togive a Carkaff to God it is un- feemly; like thofe Heathens that keep the honey to them(elves, and' oiler the wat . to their Gods : fay then to thy felf,as theProphet in another cafeconcerning thole ihatotered bliodè, and lameSterifics toGod : Offer is now to thy rulers , and governours, fee if they will accept of it : And thus it ishere, thy lame,difeafed, in firm fetvice,How fit is itfor God, when it is not fit forany man ? The commapd is, Thou /halt love the Lord thyGod withall thy heart , withall thy fool , wickall thy, minde, andwith all thy flrensth: if thisbe required of thee, then it is moll unworthy and difhonourable dealing , to put off God to thy feeble age. Eighthly, Confider thenature offn,Whatit ic,aad thonmrfi needs fay,There úna way, bat prefeotly togo'ont of it. It is thepoyfon of the foul, and that is not to bd g' kept long in the body : It is thebloody woundingofit, and thou mull not let it lye long in thisbleeding t it is themeet mercy ofGod that fin dock not give a dam -' ping (lab addblow to thee, to undo thee toall eternity. Why then wilt thou flay for an hour, for a moment in this e(hate ? Who wouldabide long in a places where fire is ready to burn and consume all before it? Yet this is thy con.dition;it was Lott great flupiditie, that when fire andbrim(ione was ready to rain from heaven upon him, hewould not go out till theAngel cameand pulled him out, The Lord being mercifultohim, faith the Text,,genef, t9. 16, And thus it is here, our fottifhnets, and liupidity is fo great, that although heaven above beagainfl us, and hellbeneath ready to devourus, yetwe think not ofconverfion to Him. Ninthly, Iffy be thou Wouldfi ever torn to Godat al,thea why not now? Db notde- ceive,and delude thyown foul;if ever thou wilt part from thy lulls, beginprefently, 9° for what can be more neceffary?Commonly this is our method,that wewill do the neceffary things in the fled place;we wil fiat provide for ourlives,before we do for ornaments; Nature teacheth us todo-that which bath the greate(l neceflity : now" thenWhat i4 moreneceffary then toturn toGod? if this benot done, thy fins are upon thee, thy luths will overwhelm thee, thydamnation is fare and unavoidable. Turn nowunto God,becaufe it ismoli neceffary r onething is needful: neither ri- ches, honour, or any advantages are like to this: Betides, if ever thou wilt turn to God, do it now, for there can be no reafon hereafcer,which will not be. much mote now,Is fin of a terrible damningnature, then it is fo now ? Dxh Gods anger be- long to lïn,fo it Both now ? Is God alto to be loved, and chofen before all thing's ? then now aswell as at any time hereafter. Thy comforts will begreater, thy ho- nour more, thy fetvice to Godmore; thereforereturn- now umo God. Ufeof Exhortation, to bepetfwaded to this duty, Returnnow, fee immediately upon the work, Why fhould Gods workbedone laft ofall ? Oh think rather I will turn untoGod, and that prefently,becaufe I may dye before I thinkof it., If I dye before I have fetled (itch and lochworldly bufineffes, there is nothing but a tempo- ral loffe; but if I dye beforeI have fetled the peaceofmy foul, then I a n eternally undone,Ohhowmany have been furprized byGods (troke,before ever they thought ofit: then they cry out, Lord, }foreme oneyear longer , Lord,giveme {f ateonce wore; ¡a-nor ready eadye,?have not pittedmyfns; O-h ifl dye now, l fhalld_yk and bi,dan,nddstathem. Come thenand take the goodcounfelof the Prophet,Daitnow; are youe Ìreartsyielding'and contenting? you wilt have the comfort of fincerity,if yòueuro toGod while in your health and flrengrh'; whereas when fear and danger works upon thee, then !till thouwilt doubt of thy integrity in what thoudolt Nnn Sfilt
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