332 THE END OF TIME. (Disc. t. God, shall never be able to pray or repent, or do any thing for God or his honour through all the ages of his future immortality: Nor is there any promise made to repenting or returning sinners in theother world, whither_ we are hastening. " As the tree falls, when it is cut down, so it lies, and it must for ever lie pointing to the north or the south," to hell or heaven, Eccles. xi. 3. And, indeed, there is no true prayer, no sincere re- pentance can be exercised after this life ; for the soul that has wasted away all its time given for repentance and prayer, is at the moment of death left under ever- lasting hardness of heart ; and whatsoever enmity against God and godliness, was fdund in the heart in this world, is increased in the world to come, when all manner of Softening means and mercies are ever at an end. This leads me to the next thought. IV. " How wretched soever our state is at death, the day of hope is ended, and it returns no more." Be our circumstances never so bad, yet we are not com- pletely wretched while the time of hope remains. We are all by nature miserable by reason of sin, but it is only despair can perfect our misery. Therefore fallen angels are sealed up under misery because there is no ,.door of hope opened for them. But in this life there is hope for the worst of sinful men : There is the word of grace and hope calling them in the gospel ; there is the voice of divine mercy sounding in the sanctuary, and " blessed are they that hear the joyful sound," Ps. lxxxix. 15. But if we turn the deaf ear to the voice of God and his Son, and to all the tender and compassionate en- treaties of a dying Saviour, hope is hastening to its pe- riod; for this very angel will shortly swear, that this joyful sound shall be heard no longer. He comes now to the door ofour hearts, he sues there for admittance, " openunto me and receive me as your Saviour and your Lord, give me and my gospel free ad- mission, and I will come in and bestow upon you the riches of my grace and all my salvation: Open your hearts to me with the holy desires and humble submission of penitence, and receive the blessings of righteousness and pardon and eternal life." He now invites you to return to God, with an acknowledgment and renuncia- tion of every sin, and he offers to take you by the hand,
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