Now, to despise
these must needs be a provoking; and it is a fearful thing to fall
into the hands of the living God.
OBJECTION. But some man may say unto me, "Fain I would be saved,
fain I would be saved by Christ; but I fear this day of grace is
past, and that I shall perish, notwithstanding the exceeding riches
of the grace of God."
ANSWER. To this doubt I would answer several things.
First, with respect to the day: 1. Art thou jogged and shaken and
molested at the hearing of the word? Is thy conscience awakened and
convinced, then, that thou art at present in a perishing state, and
that thou hast need to cry to God for mercy? This is a hopeful sign
that the day of grace is not past with thee.
2. Are there in thy more retired condition, arguings, strugglings,
and strivings with thy spirit to persuade thee of the vanity of what
vain things thou lovest, and to win thee in thy soul to a choice of
Christ Jesus and his heavenly things? Take heed and rebel not, for
the day of God's grace and patience will not be past with thee till
he saith his Spirit shall strive no more with thee: for then the woe
comes, when he shall depart from them, and when he says to the means
of grace, "Let them alone."
3. Art thou visited in the night seasons with dreams about thy
state, and that thou art in danger of being lost? Hast thou
heart-shaking apprehensions, when deep sleep is upon thee, of hell,
death, and judgment to come? These are signs that God has not wholly
left thee, or cast thee behind his back for ever.
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