78 The Nature and Neceffity Vol. H. cline? This was the cafe of the fooliJh Virgins in the Parable, Matth. z5. who made account to be ready tomeet the Bridegroom at his coming, but took no carein time to get 011 into their Lamps. They thought the Bridegroom would tarry yet a while longer, and therefore they flumbred and fiept in great fecurity : but at mid- night, when the cry was made, Behold the Bridegroomcometh ; then they arofe, and in a great hurry and confufon went about trimming their Lamps ; they were re- folved then, they would have begged or bought Oyl, and would have been at any pains and colt for it : but then it was too late; for the door was fuddenly (hut againft them, and no importunity could prevail to have it opened to them. Canft thou be contented to have the Door /hut againft thee, and when thou (halt cry, Lord open unto me, to have him return this anfwer, Departfrom me, 1 know thee not ? If thou canft not, refolve to prevent this in time. Didit thou but fee, andknow, and feel, what the miferable do in Hell, thou couldit not linger thus, thou couldft not continue fo long unrefolved. Why the timewill come, when thou wilt reflect feverely upon thy felf, and fay, That I fhould ever be fo flupid and fottifh, to be unrefolved in a matter of fuch infinite concernment tome ! How often was I admonifh'd and convinced of the neceffìty of changing my courfe? How many inward Motions had I to that purpofe ? Howoften did myown Reafon and Confcience, and the holy Spirit of God, by his frequent and friendly fuggeftions, put me upon this? How often was I jufl upon the brink of refolving ? I refolved to refolve; but (till I delayed it till Death feized upon me unrefolved : and now the opportunity is loft, and never to be recover'd again. I would not in time refolve to be wife andhappy ; and nowby the Sentence of the ju(t and unchangeable God, it is refolved that I mull be miferableto all Eternity. How fhould thefe Confiderations quicken us, who have yet thefeopportuni- ties in our Hands : which thofe who negleâed and trifled them away, wouldnow purchafe at any rate! I fay, how fhouldthefeConfiderations which I have pro- pofed, move us to take up aprefent Refolution in the matter ! Confider thefe things, Sinner, and lay them ferioufly toHeart, and fay to thy felf, Fool that I have been, tobe unrefolved fo long; not to determine my Pelf in a matter of fuch mighty confequence ; to continue fo long in fufpence, whether I had belt go to Heaven or Hell, and which was moft advifeable, tobe happy ormiferable for ever ! Blefled be God that bath heed pleated to exercife fo much Pati- ence and Long fuffering towards me, that hath fpared me fo long, when he might have taken me away, and cut me off unrefolved. My Soul lies at ftake, and for ought I know all Eternity depends upon my prefent and fpeedy Refo- lution. And now by God's Grace. I will not delay one moment more, I will hang no longer between Heaven and Hell. I (hall now in the Second place, offer force Confiderations to perfwade thofe that have taken up this good Refolution, to purfue it, and to promote it to Praaice and Executi- on, and to keep firm and ftedfaftto it. And to this end, be pleated to confider thefe three things. r. What an Argument it is of vanity and incon(tancy, to change this Refolu- tion, whilft the Reafonof it (landsgood and is not changed. I fuppofe that thou wert once refolved to leave thy Sins, and to return to God and thy Duty. Why doll thou not purfue this Refolution? Why doff thou not perfift in it? Surely there appeared to thee fome Reafon why thou didft take it up ; and if the Rea- fon remain, and appear fill the fame to thee that it did, How comes it to pats that thou haft alter'd thy Mind, and changed thy Purpofe? Either the Cafe is the fame it was, when thou tookeft up this Refolution ; or it is not. If it be al- tered, then thou haft Reafon to change thy Refolution : if it be not, thou haft the fame Reafon to continue in it, that thou hadit to take it up. Shew then, if thou canft, wherein it is changed. Wert thou miflakenbefore about the Nature of Sin, and the pernicious confequencesof it ; or about the Nature o f God and Goodnefs? Haft thou any thing now to plead for Sin, which thou didft not know or confider before? Art thou now fatisfied that Sin is not fo evil and unrea- fonable a thing, as thou didft once apprehend, or that it does not threaten thee with
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