The Communicant's Companion
places of abode; why should you not now close this settlement in the service of God, which will make all your other settlements comfortable?
Choose you, therefore, this day whom you will serve—God, or the world; Christ, or the flesh; and be persuaded to bring the matter to a good issue; determine the debate in that happy resolution to which the people of Israel came, when they said, "Nay, but we will serve the Lord." Why should not he, who is the first and the best, have the first and best of your days? Which I am sure you cannot bestow better, and which it is both your duty and interest to bestow thus.
3. What will you get by delaying it? You intend some time or other solemnly to give up yourselves unto the Lord in this ordinance, and you hope then to receive the benefit and comfort of it: but the tempter tells you, 'Tis all good in time; and you dismiss your convictions, as Felix did Paul, with a promise, that "at a more convenient season you will send for them."
You are ready to say, as the people did, "The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built:" you think you must build your own first; and what comes of those delays? Satan, ere you are aware, gets advantage by them, and cheats you of all your time, by cheating you of the present time; your hearts are in danger of being hardened, the Spirit of grace may hereby be provoked to withdraw, and strive no more; and what will become of you, if death surprise you before your great work be done?
4. What better provision can you make for a comfortable life in this world, than by doing this great work betimes? You are setting out in a world of temptations more than you think of; and how can you better arm yourselves against them, than by coming up to that fixed resolution which will silence the tempter, "Get thee behind me, Satan?" When Naomi saw that Ruth was "steadfastly resolved, she left off speaking to her." The