EXHORTATION TO BELIEVE. 263 harden you, and destroy you ; it is not the forgiveness that is with God; nor have you taken it up on gospel - grounds or evidences. You have stolen painted beads, and take yourselves to be lawful possessors of pearls and jewels: As you are, then, any way concerned in your own eternal condition, into which you are entering, (and how soon you shall be in it you know not,) pre- vail with yourselves to attend a little to the exhortation that lies before you. It is your own business that you are entreated to have regard to. 1. Consider seriously on what you are founding your hopes and expectations for eternity. Great men, and wise in other things, are here very apt to deceive them- selves. They suppose they think and believe very dif- ferently from what they do, as their cry at the last clay will manifest. Give your attention a little to the sub- ject. Do you seriously think of these things ? Or, are you so under the power of ignorance and darkness that you neglect and despise theml Or, do you rise up and lie down, and perform some duties, or neglect them, with great coldness, remissness, and indifference of spirit, like Galio, not much caring for these things 1 Or, do you relieve yourselves with hopes of future amendment, purposing that, if you live, you will be other persons than you are, when such and such things are accomplished 1 .Or, do you not hope well in general on account of what you have done and will do 1 If any of these be your condition, it is unspeakably miserable. You lie down and rise up under the wrath of the great God, who will prevail at last, and there shall be none to deliver. If you say, Nay, this is not our state, we rely on mercy and forgiveness : then let me, in the
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