Considerations
Considerations Consideration 1. And first, O that you would consider how the whole of your life past hath been cast away in vain, as to the great end and business you came into the world for. You have breathed many years, but not lived one day to God. Your consciences could never yet prevail with you to get out of the noise and hurry of the world, and go along with it into some private retiring-place, to debate the state of your souls, and think close (but for one hour) on such awful subjects as God, soul, Christ, and eternity, heaven, hell, death, and judgment.
Do you think, gentlemen, that you came into this world to do nothing else but to eat and drink, sport and play, sleep and die? Ask yourselves, I beseech you, whether the life you have hitherto lived, has looked to your own eyes like an earnest flight from hell, and a serious pursuit of heaven and salvation? How much nearer you are got to Christ now, than you were when in your cradles? The sweetest, and fittest part of your life, is passed away in vanity, and there is no calling one day, or hour of it, back again.
Consideration 2. Consider, gentlemen, for Christ Jesus sake, you have yet an opportunity to be eternally happy, if you will slight and neglect opportunities of salvation no longer; the door of mercy is not yet finally shut up: The Lord Jesus yet waits to be gracious to you.
Such is his astonishing grace and mercy, he will pardon and pass by all that you have done against him, if now, after all, you will but come unto him that you may have life. Turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die?
Your swearing and blaspheming, your drunkenness, uncleanness, and enmity of godliness, shall never be mentioned, if you will yet repent and return. Ezek. 18:21, 22. "If the wicked will
turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him."
If you say, these are hard and impossible terms to nature, it is true, they are so, and God's end in urging them here upon you, is to convince you of your natural impotence, and drive you to Christ; that by union with him, the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in you.
Consideration 3. Let it be thoroughly considered, it is no less than salvation, and your own salvation too, which depends upon your conversion. How diligent was Christ in purchasing salvation! how negligent and remiss are we in applying it! O what compositions of sloth and stupidity are unconverted sinners! how do they sit with folded arms, as if it were easy to perish? Is this your running and striving to obtain the palms and crowns of immortal glory? Work-out
(saith the apostle, Phil. 2:12, 13) your own salvation with fear and trembling It is for salvation, and nothing less, you are here pressed to strive: And what care, pains, or solicitude of ours, can be equal and proportionate to so great a thing as salvation? If every thought of the heart were rescued from all other concerns, and the mind stand continually fixed with utmost intention upon this subject, surely such a subject deserves it all, and much more.
But when you consider it is not another's, but your own salvation you are striving for; how powerful should the principle of selfpreservation awaken and invigorate your utmost endeavours after it!
The law of charity, and bowels of mercy, would compel us to do much to save the body, and much more the soul of another: And will they move us to do nothing for our salvation?