scripture might be heard, we should soon prevail; if reason, even the best and strongest reason might be heard, we should not doubt but we should speedily convince them; if experience might be heard, even their own experience, and the experience of all the world, the matter would be mended; yea, if the conscience within them might be heard, the case would be better with them than it is. But if nothing can be heard, what then shall we do for them? If the dreadful GOD of heaven be slighted, who then shall be regarded? If the inestimable love and blood of a Redeemer be made light of, what then shall be valued? If heaven have no desirable glory with them, and everlasting joys be nothing worth; if they can jest at hell, and dance about the bottomless pit,and play with the consuming fire, and that when God and man do warn them of it, what shall we do for such souls as these?

Once more in the name of the GOD of heaven, I shall do the message to you which he hath commanded us, and leave it in those standing lines to convert you or condemn you; to change you, or rise up in judgment against you, and to be a witness to your faces, that once you had a serious call to turn. Hear all you that are drudges of the world, and the servants of flesh and Satan! that spend your days in looking after prosperity on earth, and drown your consciences in drinking, and gluttony, and idleness, and foolish sports, and know your sin, and yet will sin, as if you set GOD at defiance, and bid him to do his worst and spare not! Hearken all you that mind not GOD, and have no heart to holy things, and feel no fa

your in the word or worship of the Lord, or in the thoughts or mention of eternal life, that are careless of your immortal souls, and never bestow one hour in enquiring what case they are in, whether sanctified or unsanctified, and whether you are ready to appear before the Lord! Hearken all you that by sinning in the light, have sinned yourselves into infidelity, and do not believe the word of GOD. He that hath an hear to hear, let him hear the gracious and yet dreadful call of GOD! His eye is all this while upon you. Your sins are registered, and you shall surely hear of them all again.

GOD

keepeth the book now; and he will write it all upon your conscience with his terrors and then you also shall keep yourselves: O sinners, that you knew but what you are doing and who you are all this while offending! The sun itself is darkness before the glory of that Majesty, which you daily abuse, and carelessly provoke. The sinning angels were not able to stand before him, but were cast down to be tormented with devils. And dare such silly worms as you so carelessly offend, and set your selves against your Maker! O that you did but a little know what a case that wretched soul is in, that hath engaged the living GOD against him. The word of his mouth that made thee, can unmake thee; the frown of his face will cut thee off, and cast thee out into utter darkHow eager are the devils to be doing with thee that have tempted thee, and do but wait for the word from GOD, to take and use thee as their own! and then in a moment thou wilt be in hell. If GOD be against thee

ness.

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all things are against thee: this world is but thy prison, for all that thou so lovest it; thou art but reserved in it

to the day of wrath, Job xxi. 30. the judge is coming, thy soul is even going. Yet a little while, and thy friend shall say of thee, He is dead; and thou shalt see the things that thou now dost despise, and feel that which now thou wilt not believe. Death will bring such an argument as thou canst not answer; an argument that shall effectually confute thy cavils against the word and ways of GOD, and all thy self-conceited dotages. And then how soon will thy mind be changed? Then be an unbeliever if thou canst, stand then to all thy former words, which thou wast wont to utter against a holy and a heavenly life Make good that cause then before the Lord, which thou wast wont to plead against thy teachers, and against the people that feared GOD. Then stand to thy old opinions, and contemptuous thoughts of the diligence of the saints; make ready now thy strongest reasons, and stand up then before the judge, and plead like a man for thy fleshly, thy worldly, and ungodly life. But know that thou must have one to plead with, that will not be outfaced by thee; nor so easily put off as we thy fellow creatures. O poor soul! there is nothing but a slender veil of flesh betwixt thee and that amazing sight, which will quickly silence thee, and turn thy tone, and make thee of another mind! As soon as death hath drawn this curtain, thou shalt see that which will quickly leave thee speechless. And how quickly will that day and hour come! When thou hast had but a few more merry hours and but a few

more pleasant draughts and morsels, and a little more of the honours and riches of the world, thy portion will be spent, and thy pleasures ended, and all is then gone that thou settest thy heart upon; of all that thou soldest thy Saviour and salvation for, there is nothing left but the heavy reckoning. As a thief hat sits merrily spending the money in an alehouse which he hath stolen, when men are riding post haste to apprehend him, so it is with you. While you are drowned in cares to fleshly pleasures, and making merry with your own shame, death is coming in post haste to seize upon you, and carry your souls to such a place and state, as now you little know or think of. Suppose when you were bold and busy in your sin that a messensenger were but coming post from London to apprehend you, and take away your lives; though you saw him not, yet if you knew that he was coming, it would mar your mirth, and you would be thinking of the haste he makes, and hearkening when he knocked at your door. O that you could but see what haste death makes, though yet he have not overtaken you! No post so swift! No messenger more sure! As sure as the sun will be with you in the morning, though it hath many thousands, and hundred thousand miles to go in the night, so sure will death be quickly with you, and then, where is your sport and pleasure? Then will you jest and brave it out? then will you jeer at them that warned you? Then is it better to be a believing saint, or a sensual worldling? And then whose shall these things be that you have gathered? Luke xii. 19, 20, 21. Do you not observe

that days and weeks are quickly gone, and nights and mornings come apace, and speedily succeed each other? You sleep, but your Damnation slumbereth not; you linger, but your judgment this long time lingereth not. 2 Pet. ii. 3, 4, 5. to which you were reserved for punishment. 2 Pet. ii. 8, 9. O that you were wise to understand this, and that you did consider your latter end. Deut. xxxii. 20. He that hath an hear to hear, let him hear the call of GOD in this day of his salbation.

O careless sinners, that you did but know the love that you unthankfully neglect, and the preciousness of the blood of Christ which you despise! O that you did but know the riches of the gospel! O that you did but know, a little know the certainty and the glory, and blessedness of that everlasting life, which now you will not set your hearts upon, nor be persuaded first and diligently to seek. Heb. xi. 6. and xii. 28. Matth. vi. 13. Did you but know the endless life with GOD which you now neglect, how quickly would you cast away your sin, how quickly would you change your mind and life, your course and company, and turn the streams of your affections, and lay your care another way! How resolutely would you scorn to yield to such temptations as now deceive you, and carry you away? How zealously would you bestir yourselves for that most blessed life? How earnest would you be with GOD in prayer? How diligent in hearing, and learning, and enquiring? How serious in meditating on the laws of God? Psal. i. 2. How fearful of sinning in thought, word, or deed? and how careful to please GOD, and