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that Time we thus lay out for the bufinefs of Religion. Yet how are we fure that we fhall not then be altogether as unwilling, and much more unable to repent, than we are now?

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1ft, If we confider our felves only upon the Common principles of Nature, without reflecting upon the Grace of God, without which yet we can do nothing as to the Bufinefs of our Duty; Even these will tell us, That the more inveterate any Habit is, the more difficult it is to leave it, and the greater pains it will coft a Man to overcome it. And he who finds it fo hard a Matter to conquer his Lufts now, what will he do hereafter, when the Indulgence of many years more fhall have rooted them in his very Soul, and made his fins become even natural to him?

2dly, But then, Secondly: If we examine this matter according to the Principles of Chriftianity, these will fhew a yet greater improbability of our repenting hereafter, than at the prefent. It being not to be doubted, but that as upon the Ufe of God's Grace, He beftows a more liberal portion of it; fo by refufing and refifting the Motions of the Holy Spirit, God withdraws his hand, and leffens his Grace, and it may be at laft totally deprives Men of it.

The Truth is, I cannot but think that fuch Perfons as thefe, who not only continue in the Commiffions of fin, but project and contrive for the continuing in it; and therefore put off the Time of their Repentance as a work that may be well enough done hereafter, do in effect defpife the Holy Spirit of God, and trample under Foot that Grace which fhould have led them to Repentance. And it muft certainly

certainly be a moft daring Prefumption in any Sin ner, to think, that notwithstanding fuch a Provocation, God will yet attend his Leifure, and continue to afford him the Affiftance of his Grace, for his Salvation at the laft, though he has fo often, wilfully, and defignedly rejected all the Offers of it.

. I am fufficiently perfuaded, that there is none of us, whom God does not call moft truly and fin cerely to Salvation; and by, confequence, that there is none of us, to whom he has not offer'd fuch a Measure of his Grace, as might enable him to fulfil his Duty, in order thereunto, and perfect his Repentance. But I must confefs, I cannot without fome concern think, what an unworthy ufe we have the most of us made of it, and how juftly we have deferved, that God fhould at laft leave us to our felves, and no longer in vain attend our Amend

ment.'

And O! that we would therefore be perfuaded seriously to reflect upon all these things, and no longer go on to expofe our immortal fouls to fuch defperate Hazards, as 'tis plain from all thefe Confiderations we do, every day that we neglect to provide for Eternity! Be it enough that we are not already made the fatal Monuments of Abufed Mercy: That we are yet on this fide Hell, and may, if we please, by our Speedy Repentance, ftill prevent thofe Fudgments which our former Impenitency has but too juftly deferved.

Let us begin in this our Day, to fee Jer. xiii. 15. and to purfue the things that make

for our peace, before they be hid from our Eyes.

Let

Heb. iii. 13.

Heb. iv. I.

Let us exhort one another daily, while it is called to day, left any of us be hardned through the Deceitfulness of Sin.

Let us fear, left a promife being left us of entring into his reft, any of us fhould feem to come short of it.

Let us give glory to God, before Darkness come, and our feet ftumble upon the dark mountains.

I conclude all with the Words of the Prophet Ifaiah, Chap. LV. Verse 6, 7.

Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forfake his way, and the unrigh teous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and unto our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

SER

SERMON VII.

Of the Danger of Mens delaying their Repentance.

Preached before the Queen at
White-Hall.

ACTS XXIV. 25.

-Felix trembled, and anfwer'd,

Go thy

way for this time, when I have a convenient feafon, I will call for thee.

MONG all the Aggravations of fin, there is none greater, than to continue it not only against the checks of Confcience, and the Motions of God's Holy Spirit to the contrary, but after many Admonitions in vain fent us by his merciful Providence, to bring us to Repentance.

There

There are, I believe, but few, if any, in the World, fo loft to all the Hopes of Heaven and Eternity, who have not fome time or other, been put in mind of their Duty, and invited by God's Grace, to Pardon and Salvation. And if notwithstanding all this, men will nevertheless continue ftill incorrigible, and harden themselves againft all the means that can be made ufe of to reclaim them, we ought not to wonder, if they are at last given up to the Dominion of Sin, and referved as monuments of the juft Fudgment of God, at the day of his glorious appearing.

I will not now enter on any Enquiry what the caufe fhould be, why we who are all of us fufficiently convinced of the neceffity of Repenting, and the deplorable State in which we must expect to be, if we do not fome time or other effectually fet about it; fhould yet still for the most part be fo very unwilling to Repent.

But becaufe, this is one of the most fatal delufions Men are apt to cheat themselves withal, that with Felix here in my Text, they put off this business to a more convenient Seafon, and by their unfeafonable Procraftinations in an Affair that of all others ought the leaft to be deferr'd, too often die without ever performing it at all; I will make it my endeavour, fo to lay before you the Danger of fuch a Delay, as, if it fhall pleafe God, to convince you not fo much of the Neceffity of Repenting fome time or other, which I take it for granted without my fpeaking, you are all of you already refolved to do; as of the great concern we have immediately to fet about it; and do that presently, which we muft fome time or other do, and can never do fo Well

as now.

And

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