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with thee。 For usually they that are past grace； are also； in their
conscience； past feeling； being 〃seared with an hot iron；〃 Eph。 iv。
18； 19； 1 Tim。 iv。 1； 2。
Consequently； those past grace must be such as are denied the
awakening fruits of the Word preached。 〃The dead that hear；〃 says
Christ； 〃shall live；〃 at least while Christ has not quite done with
them； the day of God's patience is not at an end with them； John v。
25。
2。 Is 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；〃 Hos。 iv。 17； chap。 ix。 12。
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…
shaken 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。 〃For God speaketh once；
yea twice； yet man perceiveth it not； in a dream； in a vision of the
night； when deep sleep falleth upon men； in slumberings upon the bed；
then he openeth the ears of men； and sealeth their instruction； that
he may withdraw man from his purpose （his sinful purposes） and hide
pride from man；〃 Job xxxiii。 14…17。
All this while God has not left the sinner； nor is come to the end of
his patience towards him； but stands at least with the door of grace
a…jar in his hand； as being loth as yet to bolt it against him。
4。 Art thou followed with affliction； and dost thou hear God's angry
voice in thy afflictions？ Doth he send with thy affliction an
interpreter to shew thee thy vileness； and why； or wherefore； the
hand of God is upon thee； and upon what thou hast； to wit； that it is
for thy sinning against him； and that thou mightest be turned to him？
If so； thy summer is not quite ended； thy harvest is not quite over
and gone。 Take heed； stand out no longer； lest he cause darkness；
and lest thy feet stumble upon the dark mountains； and lest； while
you look for light； he turn it into the shadow of death； and make it
gross darkness； Jer。 viii。 20； chap。 xiii。 15…17。
5。 Art thou crossed； disappointed； and way…laid； and overthrown in
all thy foolish ways and doings？ This is a sign God has not quite
left thee； but that he still waits upon thee to turn thee。 Consider；
I say； has he made a hedge and a wall to stop thee？ Has he crossed
thee in all thou puttest thy hand unto？ Take it as a call to turn to
him； for； by his thus doing； he shews he has a mind to give thee a
better portion。 For usually when God gives up men； and resolves to
let them alone in the broad way； he gives them rope； and lets them
have their desires in all hurtful things； Hos。 ii。 6…15； Psalm
lxxiii。 3…13； Rom。 xi。 9。
Therefore take heed to this also； that thou strive not against this
hand of God； but betake thyself to a serious inquiry into the causes
of this hand of God upon thee； and incline to think； it is because
the Lord would have thee look to that； which is better than what thou
wouldst satisfy thyself withal。 When God had a mind to make the
prodigal go home to his father； he sent a famine upon him； and denied
him a bellyful of the husks which the swine did eat。 And observe it；
now he was in a strait； he betook him to consideration of the good
that there was in his father's house； yea； he resolved to go home to
his father； and his father dealt well with him； he received him with
music and dancing； because he had received him safe and sound； Luke
xv。 14…32。
6。 Hast then any enticing thoughts of the word of God upon thy mind？
Doth； as it were； some holy word of God give a glance upon thee； cast
a smile upon thee； let fall； though it be but one drop of its savour
upon thy spirit； yea； though it stays but one moment with thee？ O
then the day of grace is not past！ The gate of heaven is not shut！
nor God's heart and bowels withdrawn from thee as yet。 Take heed；
therefore； and beware that thou make much of the heavenly gift； and
of that good word of God of the which he has made thee taste。
Beware； I say； and take heed； there may be a falling away for all
this； but； I say； as yet God has not left thee； as yet he has not
cast thee off； Heb。 vi。 1…9。
Secondly； With respect to thy desires； what are they？ Wouldst thou
be saved！ Wouldst thou be saved with a thorough salvation？ Wouldst
thou be saved from guilt and filth too？ Wouldst thou be the servant
of thy Saviour？ Art thou indeed weary of the service of thy old
master the devil； sin； and the world？ And have these desires put thy
soul to flight？ Hast thou through desires betaken thyself to thy
heels？ Dost fly to him that is a Saviour from the wrath to come； for
life？ If these be thy desires； and if they be unfeigned； fear not。
Thou art one of those runaways which God has commanded our Lord to
receive； and not to send thee back to the devil thy master again； but
to give thee a place in his house； even the place which liketh thee
best。 〃Thou shalt not deliver to his master；〃 says he； 〃the servant
which is escaped from his master unto thee。 He shall dwell with
thee； even among you in that place which he shall choose； in one of
thy gates where it liketh him best； thou shalt not oppress him；〃
Deut。 xxiii。 15； 16。
This is a command to the church； consequently to the Head of the
church； for all commands from God come to her through her Head。
Whence I conclude； that as Israel of old was to receive the runaway
servant who escaped from a heathen master to them； and should not
dare to send him back to his master again； so Christ's church now；
and consequently Christ himself； may not； will not； refuse that soul
that has made his escape from sin； Satan； the world； and hell； unto
him； but will certainly let him dwell in his house； among his saints；
in that place which he shall choose； even where it liketh him best。
For he says in another place； 〃And him that cometh to me； I will in
no wise cast out。〃 In no wise； let his crimes be what they will；
either for nature； multitude； or the attendance of aggravating
circumstances。
Wherefore； if thy desires be firm； sound； and unfeigned to become the
saved of Christ； and his servant； fear not； he will not； he will in
no wise put thee away； or turn thee over to thy old master again。
Thirdly； As to they fears； whatever they are； let that be supposed
which is supposed before； and they are groundless； and so of no
weight。
Object。 But I am afraid I am not elected； or chosen to salvation；
though you called me fool a little before for so fearing。
Ans。 Though election is； in order； before calling； as to God； yet
the knowledge of calling must go before the belief of my election as
to myself。 Wherefore； souls that doubt of the truth of their
effectual calling； do but plunge themselves into a deeper labyrinth
of confusion that concern themselves with their election； I mean；
while they labour to know it before they prove their calling。 〃Make
your calling； and so your election； sure；〃 2 Pet。 i。 4…11。
Wherefore； at present； lay the thoughts of thy election by； and ask
thyself these questions： Do I see my lost condition？ Do I see
salvation is nowhere but in Christ？ Would I share in this salvation
by faith in him？ And would I； as was said before； be thoroughly
saved； to wit； from the filth as from the guilt？ Do I love Christ；
his Father； his saints； his words； and ways？ This is the way to
prove we are elect。 Wherefore； sinner； when Satan； or thine own
heart seeks to puzzle thee with election； say thou； I cannot attend
to talk of this point now； but stay till I know that I am called of
God to the fellowship of his Son； and then I will shew you that I am
elect； and that my name is written in the book of life。
If poor distressed souls would observe this order； they might save
themselves the trouble of an unprofitable labour under these
unreasonable and soul…sinking doubts。
Let us therefore； upon the sight of our wretchedness； fly and
venturously leap into the arms of Christ； which are now as open to
receive us into his bosom； as they were when nailed to the cross。
This is coming to Christ for life aright； this is right running away
from thy master to him； as was said before。 And for this we have
multitudes of scriptures to support； encourage； and comfort us in our
so doing。
But now； let him that doth thus be sure to look for it； for Satan
will be with him to…morrow； to see if he can get him again to his old
service； and if he cannot do that； then will he enter into dispute
with him； to wit； about whether he be elect to life； and called
indeed to partake of this Christ； to whom he is fled for succour； or
whether he comes to him of his own presumptuous mind。 Therefore we
are bid； as to come； so to arm ourselves with that armour which God
h