Ver.4 which you are entring into, (and how loon you (hall be in- gaged in it you know not) prevail with your (elves to attend a little unto the Exhortation that lyes b._fore you ; it is your own buj Eß that you are entreated to have regard unto. I. Confider ferioufly what it is you bottom your hopes and expeElation upon as to Eternity. Great men, and in other things mif , are here very apt to deceive themfelves. They fuppofe they think, and believe much otherwile, than indeed they think and believe ; as their cry at the laft day will manifefl. Put your fouls a little unto it. Do you at all ferioufly think of there things ? Or are you fo under the power ofyour Lufls, Igno- rance, and DarkneCs, that you neglea and defpife them ? Or do you rife up and lye down, and perform f,me duties, or negled them, with a great Çoldncfs, Remifne.fs, and Indif- ferency of Spirit, like Gallia not much caring for thfe things ? Or do you relieve your (elves with hopes of future amendment, purpoCing,that if you live, you will be other perfons than you are, when fuch and fuch things are brought about and ac- complifhed ? Or do you not hope well in Generali upon, the account of what you have done , and will doe ? If any of their exprefs your condition, it is unfpeakably miferable. You lye down, and rife up under the wrath of the Great God, who will prevail at lift upon you, and there (hall be none to de- liver. If you (hall fay, Niy, This is not our five ; we rely on MercÿandFcrgiveneß; then let me in the fear of the Great God entreat a few.things, yet farther of you. 1. That you would ferioufly confider, whether the for- givenefs you ref} on, and hope in, be that Gofpel Forgiveneff which we have before defcribed ? or is it only a General Ap- prehenfión of Impunity, though you are Sinners ? That God is merciful!, and you hope in him, that you (hall drape the Vengeance of Hell -fire. If it be thus with you, forgiuenfßit fell' will not relieve you. This is that of the prefumptuous man, Deut. 29. 19. Grafel-pardon is a thing of another,naturc; It hath its fpring in the Gracious heart of the Father, is made out by a Soveraign Ad of his Will ; rendred confjient with the Glory of his Juilice and Holynefs by the blood of Cbrift, by which it is purchafed in a Çwenant of Grace, as hath Exhortation to Believing enforced. 271
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