A CALL TO THE UNCONVERTED. MEN AND BRETHREN, end, and how sad a change you will shortly see, if yet you go on a little longer. Having bought you at so dear a rate as the blood of his Son Jesus Christ, and made you so free and general a promise of pardon, grace, and everlasting glory, he commands us to tender all this to you, as the gift of God, and to intreat you to consider of the necessity and worth of what he offers. He sees and pities you, while you are drowned in worldly cares and pleasures, and eagerly following chil time for a thing of nought, in which you should make ready for an everlasting life; and therefore he hath commanded us to call after you, and to tell you how you lose your labour, and are about to lose your souls, and to tell you what greater and better things you might certainly have, if you would hearken to his call. THE eternal God that made you for life everlasting, and hath redeemed you by his only Son, when you had lost it, and yourselves; being mindful of you in your sin and misery, hath indited the gospel, sealed it by his Spirit, and commanded his ministers to preach it to the world, that pardon being freely offered you, and heaven being set before you, he might call you off from your fleshly pleasures, and from follow-dish toys, and wasting that short and precious ing after this deceitful world, and acquaint you with the life you were created and redeemed for, before you are dead and past remedy. He sends you not prophets or apostles, that receive their message by immediate revelation, but yet he calls you by his ordinary ministers, who are commissioned by him to preach the same gospel which Christ and his apostles first delivered. We believe and obey the voice of God: and The Lord stands over you, and sees how you come to you daily on his message, who hath forget him and your latter end, and how light charged us to preach and be instant with you in you make of everlasting things, as men that season, and out of season, and to lift up our understand not what they have to do or suffer: voice like a trumpet, and show you your transhe sees how bold you are in sin, how fear-gressions and your sins; but woe and alas! to less of his threatenings, how careless of your the grief of our souls, and your own undoing, souls, and how the works of infidels are in your you stop your ears, you stiffen your necks, lives, while the belief of Christians is in your you harden your hearts, and break our hearts, mouths. He sees the dreadful day at hand, when and send us back to God with groans, to your sorrows will begin, and you must lament tell him that we had done his message, but all this with fruitless cries in torment and despe- can do no good, nor scarcely get a sober ration; and then the remembrance of your folly hearing. O that our eyes were as a founwill tear your hearts, if true conversion now pre-tain of tears, that we might lament our ignor vent it not. In compassion of your sinful, miser- ant, careless, people, that have Christ before able souls, the Lord, who better knows your case them, and pardon and life, and heaven before than you can know it, hath made it our duty to them, and have not hearts to know and value speak to you in his name, to tell you plainly them! That might have Christ, grace, and of your sin and misery, and what will be your glory, as well as others, if it were not for their wilful negligence and contempt: O that the life; that are careless of your immortal souls, Lord would fill our hearts with more compassion and never bestowed one hour in inquiring what to these miserable souls, that we might cast our- case they are in, whether sanctified or unsanctiselves even at their feet, and follow them to their fied, and whether you are ready to appear behouses, and speak to them with our bitter tears. fore the Lord! Hearken all you that by sinFor long have we preached to many of them as ning in the light, have sinned yourselves into in vain we study plainness to make them un- atheism and infidelity, and do not believe the derstand, and many of them will not understand word of God. He that hath an ear to hear let us: we study serious, piercing words to make him hear the gracious and yet dreadful call of them feel, but they will not feel. If the great- God! His eye is all this while upon you, your est matters would work with them, we should sins are registered, and you shall surely hear of awake them. If the sweetest things would work, them again: God keeps the book now; and he we should entice them, and win their hearts. If will write it upon your consciences with his terthe most dreadful things would work, we should rors; and then you also shall keep it yourselves: at least affright them from their wickedness: if O sinners, that you knew but what you are truth and sincerity would take with them, we doing! and who you are all this while offending: should soon convince them: if the God that the sun itself is darkness before the glory of that made them, and the Saviour that bought them, Majesty which you daily abuse and carelessly might be heard, the case would soon be altered provoke. The sinning angels were not able to with them: if scripture might be heard, we should stand before him, but were cast down to be soon prevail: if reason, even the best and strong- tormented with devils; and dare such silly est reason, might be heard, we should not doubt worms as you so carelessly offend, and set yourbut we should speedily convince them: if ex-selves against your Maker! O that you did but perience might be heard, even their own experi- a little know what a case that wretched soul is ence, and the experience of all the world, the in, that hath engaged the living God against matter might be mended: yea, if the conscience him! The word of his mouth who made thee within them might be heard, the case would be can unmake thee; a frown of his face will cut better with them than it is. But if nothing can thee off, and cast thee out into utter darkness. be heard, what then shall we do for them? If How eager are the devils to be doing with thee the dreadful God of heaven be slighted, who that have tempted thee; they but wait for the then shall be regarded? If the inestimable love word from God to take and use thee as their own! and blood of a Redeemer be made light of, what And then in a moment thou wilt be in hell. If then shall be valued? If heaven have no desir- God be against thee, all things are against thee. able glory with them, and everlasting joys be This world is but thy prison for all that thou worth nothing; if they can jest at hell, and so lovest it: thou art but reserved in it to the dance about a bottomless pit, and play with the day of wrath. The Judge is coming, thy soul consuming fire, and that when God and man do is even going. Yea, a little while and thy friends warn them of it: what shall we do for such souls shall say of thee, He is dead; and thou shalt see as these? the things that thou dost now despise, and feel what 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 dreams: 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 the scriptures, or against a holy and 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. Once more, in the name of the God of heaven, I shall deliver the message to you which he hath commanded us, and leave it in these 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 the drudges of the world, the servants of the flesh and Satan, that spend your days in looking after prosperity on earth, and drown your consciences in drinking, gluttony, idleness, and foolish sports, and know your sin, and yet will sin, as if you set God at defiance, bid him do his worst, and spare not! Hearken all you that mind not God, and have no heart to holy things, and feel no savour in the word or worship of the Lord, or in the thoughts or mention of eternal Make ready now thy strongest reasons, and stand up then before the judge, and plead like a And man, for thy fleshly, thy worldly, and ungodly O careless sinners, that you did but know the life; but know that thou must have one to plead love that you unthankfully neglect, and the prewith thee, that will not be looked out of counte- ciousness of the blood of Christ which you desnance by thee, nor so easily put off as we thy fellow pise! O that you did but know the riches of creatures. O poor, deceived, wretched soul, there our Lord! O that you did but know the riches is nothing but a slender vail of flesh betwixt thee of the gospel! O that you did but know a little and that amazing sight, which will quickly silence the certainty, the glory, and blessedness of that thee and turn thy tune, and make thee of an- everlasting life, which now you will not set your other mind! As soon as death has drawn this hearts upon, nor be persuaded first and diligently curtain, thou shalt see that which will quickly to seek. Did you but know the endless life with leave thee speechless. And how quickly will God, which you now neglect, how quickly would that day and hour come? When thou hast had you cast away your sin! How quickly would but a few more merry hours, and but a few more you change your mind and life, your course and pleasant draughts and morsels, and a little more company, and turn the streams of your affections, of the honours and riches of the world, thy por- and lay out your care another way? How resotion will be spent, and thy pleasures ended, and lutely would you scorn to yield to such temptaall is then gone that thou settest thy heart upon, tions as now deceive you, and carry you away? of all that thou soldest thy Saviour and salvation How zealously would you bestir yourselves for for; there is nothing left but the heavy reckon- that most blessed life? How earnest would you ing. As a thief that sits merrily spending the be with God in prayer? How diligent in hearmoney in an ale-house which he hath stolen, ing, learning, and inquiring? How serious in when men are riding in post-haste to apprehend meditating on the laws of God? How fearful of him, so it is with you; while you are drowned sinning in thought, word or deed? And how in cares or fleshly pleasures, and making merry careful to please God and grow in holiness? 0 with your own shame, death is coming in post-haste what a changed people you would be! to seize upon you and carry your souls to such why should not the certain word of God be bea place and state as now you little know or think lieved, and prevail with you, which opens to of. Suppose when you are bold and busy in you these glorious and eternal things? Yea, let your sin, that a messenger were but coming post me tell you, that even here upon earth, you little from London to apprehend you, and take away know the difference between the life you reyour life, though you saw him not; yet if you fuse and the life you choose. The sanctified are knew of his coming it would mar your mirth conversing with God, when you scarce dare think and you would be thinking of the haste he makes, of him, and when you are conversing but with and hearkening when he knocks at your door: earth and flesh, their conversation is in heaven, O that ye could but see what haste death makes, when you are utter strangers to it, and your though yet it hath not overtaken you! No post belly is your God, and you are minding earthly so swift! No messenger more sure! As sure as things. They are seeking after the face of God, the sun will be with you in the morning, though when you seek for nothing higher than this it hath many thousand and hundred thousand world. They are busily laying out for an endmiles to go in the night: so sure will death be less life, where they shall be equal with the anquickly with you, and then where is your sport gels, when you are taken up with a shaand pleasure? Then will you jest and brave dow, and a transitory thing of nought. How it out? Then will you mock at them that low and base is your earthly, fleshly, sinful warned you? Then is it better to be a believ-life, in comparison of the noble, spiritual life of ing saint, or a sensual worldling? And then whose shall all those things be that you have gathered? 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;' to which you are reserved for punishment. O that you were wise to understand this, and that you did consider your latter end!—He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear the call of God in this day of his salvation.' true believers? Many a time have I looked on such men with grief and pity to see them trudge about the world, and spend their lives, care and labour for nothing but a little food and raiment, or a little fading treasure, or fleshly pleasures, or empty honours, as if they had no higher thing to mind. What difference is there between the lives of these men, and of the beasts that perish, who spend their time in working, eating, and living, merely that they may live? They taste not of the inward heavenly pleasures which believers taste and live upon. I had rather have a little of their com- and blood cannot behold it. If you think of the fort, which the fore-thoughts of their heavenly inheritance doth afford them, though I had all their scorn and sufferings with it, than to have all your pleasures and treacherous prosperities: I would not have one of your secret misgivings of conscience, dark and dreadful thoughts of death and life to come, for all that ever the world hath done for you, or all that you should reasonably hope that it should do. If I were in your unconverted, carnal state, and knew but what I know, believed but what I now believe, methinks my life would be a foretaste of hell: how oft should I be thinking of the terrors of the Lord, and of the dismal day that is hastening on? Surely death and hell would be still before me. I should think of them by day, and dream of them by night; I should lie down in fear, rise in fear, and live in fear, least death should come before I were converted: I should have small felicity in any thing that I possessed, and little pleasure in any company, and little joy in any thing in the world, as long as I knew myself to be under the curse and wrath of God: I should still be afraid of hearing that voice, Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee.' And that fearful sentence would be written upon my conscience, 'There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.' O poor sinner! it is a more joyful life than this that you might live, if you were but willing, but truly willing to hearken to Christ, and to come home to God. You might then draw near to God with boldness, and call him your Father, and comfortably trust him with your souls and bodies. If you look upon promises, you may say, They are all mine; if upon the curse, you may say, From this I am delivered! When you read the law, you may see what you are saved from: when you read the gospel, you may see him that redeemed you, and see the course of his love, holy life, and sufferings, and trace him in his temptations, tears and blood, in the work of your salvation. You may see death conquered, heaven opened, and your resurrection and glorification provided for, in the resurrection and glorification of your Lord. If you look on the saints, you may say, They are my brethren and companions. If on the unsanctified, you may rejoice to think that you are saved from that state: if you look upon the heavens, the sun, the moon, and stars innumerable, you may think and say, My Father's face is infinitely more glorious; it is higher matters that he hath prepared for his saints. Yonder is but the outward court of heaven. The blessedness that he hath promised me is so much higher, that flesh grave you may remember that the glorified Spirit, a living Head, and a loving Father, have all so near relation to your dust, that it cannot be forgotten or neglected, but will more certainly revive than the plants and flowers in the spring: because the soul is still alive, that is the root of the body, and Christ is alive, who is the root of both. Even death, which is the king of fears, may be remembered and entertained with joy, as being the day of your deliverance from the remains of sin and sorrow, and the day which you believed, hoped, and waited for, when you shall see the blessed things which you have heard of, and shall find, by present joyful experience, what it was to choose the better part, and be a sincere believing saint. What say you, sirs? Is not this a more delightful life, to be assured of salvation, and prepared to die, than to live as the ungodly, that have their hearts overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day comes upon them unawares. Might you not live a comfortable life, if once you were made the heirs of heaven, and sure to be saved when you leave the world? O look about you then, and think what you do, and cast not away such hopes as these for very nothing. The flesh and world can give you no such hopes or comforts. And besides all the misery that you bring upon yourselves, you are the troublers of others as long as you are unconverted. You trouble magistrates to rule you by their laws. You trouble ministers by resisting the light and guidance which they offer you: your sin and misery is the greatest grief and trouble to them in the world. You trouble the commonwealth, and draw the judgments of God upon us: it is you that most disturb the holy peace and order of the churches, and hinder our union and reformation, and are the shame and trouble of the churches where you intrude, and of all the places where you are. Ah Lord! how heavy and sad a case is this, that even in Britain, where the gospel doth abound above any other nation in the world; where teaching is so plain and common, and all the helps we can desire, are at hand, when the sword hath been hewing us, and judgment hath run as a fire through the land; when deliverance has relieved us, and so many admirable mercies have engaged us to God, to the gospel, to an holy life: that yet after all this, our cities, towns, and countries, abound with multitudes of unsanctified men, and swarm with so much sensuality, as every where to our grief we see! One would have thought, that after all this light, and |