4 The Nature andNeceffity Vol. II. And if this be a true Reprefentation which I have made to you, of Sinand Vice on the one hand, and of God and Goodnefs on the other, what can be more powerful than the ferions Confideration of it, to engage us to a fpeedy Refolu- tion of leaving our Sins, and ofturning and cleaving to the Lordwith full purpofe ofheart ? After this wecannot but conclude with the Penitent in the Text; Sure- ly it it meet to be faid unto God, Iwill not offend any more : That which I fie not teach those me ; and ifIhave done iniquity, I will dono more. 3. Confider how unreafonable it is to be unrefolved in a Cafe of fo great mo- ment and concernment. There is no greater Argumentofa Man's weaknefs, than Irrefolution inmatters of mightyconfequence, when both the Importance ofthe thing, and Exigency of prefent circumftances require 'a fpeedy Refolution. We fhould account it a ftrange folly, for a Man to be unrefolved in the cleareft and plaineft matters that concern his temporal welfare and fafety. If a Man could not determine himfelf whether he fhould eat or ftarve; if he were dangeroufly fick, and could not determine whether he thould take Phyfickor Die; or if one that were in Prifon, could not refolve himfelf whether he fhould accept of Liber- ty, and be contented to be releafed ; or if a fair Eflate were offer'd to him, he fhould delire feven years time to confider whether he fhould take it or not:. this would be fo abfurd in the common affairs of Life, that a Man would be thought infatuated , that fhould be doubtful and unrefolved in cafes fo plain, and of fuch prefíìng concernment. If a Man were under the Sentence and Condemnati- onof the Law, and liable to be executedupon the leaf} intimation of the Prince's Pleafure, and a Pardon were gracioufly offer'd tohim, with this intimation, that this would probably be the IAoffer of Mercy that ever would be made to him; one would think that in this Cafe a Man fhouldCoon be determinedwhat to do, or rather that he should notneed to deliberate at all about it ; becaufe there is nodan- ger ofraihnefs in making hafte to fave his Life. And yet the Cafe of a tanner is of far greater importance, and much more de- pends upon it, infinitely more than any temporal Concernment whatfoever can amount to, evenour Happinefsor Mifery to all Eternity: And can there be any difficulty for a Man to be refolved what is, to done in fuck a Cafe? No Cafe finely in the World canbe plainer than this ; Whether a Man fhould leave hisSins, and return to God and his Duty, or not; that is, whethera Man fhould chuteto be happyor miferable, unfpeakably and everlaftingly happy, or extremely and eternally miferable. And the circumftances 'and exigences of our Cafe do call for a fpeedy and peremptoryRefolution in this matter. The Sentenceof the Law is already paft, and God may execute it upon thee every moment, and it is great Mercy and Forbearance not to do it. Thy Life is uncertain , and thou art liable every minute to be fnatch'd away and hurried out of this World. However at the heft, thou haft but a little time to refolve in ; Death and Judgment and Eter- nity cannot be far off, and for ought thou knoweft they may be even at the door. Thou art upon the matter jut} ready to be feized upon byDeath, tobe Iummond to Judgment, and to be fwallowed up of Eternity: And is it not yet time, thinkeft thou, to refolve? Would(} thou have yet a little longer time to deliberate, whether thou fhouldf} repent and forfake thy Sins, or not? If there were difficulty in the Cafe, or if there were no danger in the delay; if thou couldfl gain time , or any thing elfe, by fufpending thy Refolution: there were then force Reafon why thou thouldit noti make a fudden Determi- nation. But thou cant} pretend none of thefe. It is evident at fir(} fight, what is belt to be done, and nothing can make it plainer. It is not a matter fo clear and out of Controvefie, that Riches are better than Poverty, and Eafe better than Pain, and Life more defirable than Death ; as it is, that it is better to break off ourSins, than to continue in the Praftife of them; to be reconciled to God, than to go on to provoke him ; to be Holy and Virtuous, than to be Wick- ed and Vicious; to be Heirs of eternal Glory, than to beVeld: ofwrathfitted for Deffruïlion. And
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=