EXHORTATION TO BELIEVE. 243 sinners; and some, it may be, have reason to apprehend themselves near the grave and hell; some of you, it may be, have your consciences disquieted and galled; and it may be, some are under outward troubles and perplex- ities that cause you a little to look about you; and some of you, it may be, are in the madness of your natural strength and lusts; your breasts are full of milk, and your hones of marrow, and your hearts of sin, pride and contempt of the ways of God : all is one; this word is unto you all; and I shall only remind you, "that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." You hear the voice or read the words of a poor worm, but the message is the message, and the word is the word of Him who shaketh heaven and earth. Consider well, then, what you have to do, and what answer you will return to Him who will not be mocked. But you will say, Why is this matter urged with so much earnestness 'E We have heard the same words a hundred times over. The last Lord's day, such a one or such a one preached to the same purpose; and why need it be insisted on again with so much importunity`': And is it so indeed, that you have thus frequently been warned, and yet continue in a state of irreconcilia- tion 2 My heart is pained for you, to think of your wo- ful and almost remediless condition. If he that, " being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall perish sud- denly, and that without remedy," Prov. 29 : 1, how much more will he, who being often invited to peace with God, yet hardeneth his heart and refuseth to hear ! Methinks I hear his voice concerning you, " Those, mine enemies, they shall not taste of the supper that I have prepared." Be it, then, that our message is a corn - mon one to you, and you set no value upon it; then take your way and course in sin; stumble, fall, and pe- rishit is not so slight a matter to poor convinced sin- ners, that tremble at the word of God; these will prize
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=