Troven what is already said of the “necessity of conversion,” and of the miseries of the unconverted,” might be sufficient to induce any considerate mind to resolve upon a present turning unto God; yet, knowing what a piece of desperate obstinacy and untractableness the heart of man naturally is, I bave thought it necessary to add, to the means of conversion and directions for a covenant closure with God and Christ, some MoTIVES to persuade you to be reconciled to God.
Lord, fail me not now, at my last attempts. If any soul hath read hitherto, and is yet untouched, now, Lord, fasten on him, and do thy work; now take him by the heart, overcome him, persuade _ him, till he say, Thou hast prevailed, for thou art stronger than I. Lord, didst not thou make me a fisher of men, and have I toiled all this while and caught nothing? Alas, that I should have spent my strength for naught! and now I am casting my last; Lord Jesus, stand thou upon the shore, and direct how and where I shall spread my net; and let me so enclose with arguments the souls I seek, that they may not be able to get out. Now, Lord, for a multitude of souls; now for a full draught. O
Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me this once, O God.
But I turn me unto you.
Men and brethren, heaven and earth call upon you; yea, hell itself preaches the doctrine of repentance unto.you. The ministers of the churches labor for you. The angels of heaven wait for you, for your repenting and turning unto God. O sinner, why should devils laugh at thy destruction, and deride thy misery, and sport themselves with thy folly? This will be thy case, except thou turn.. And were it not better thou shouldst be-a joy to angels, than a laughing-stock and sport for devils? Verily, if thou wouldst but come in, the heavenly hosts would take up their anthems and sing, “” Glory to God in the highest;”’ the morning stars would sing together, and all the sons of God shout for joy, and celebrate this new creation as they did the first. Thy repentance would, as it were, make a holiday in heaven, and the glorious spirits would rejoice, in that there is a new brother added to their society, another heir born to the Lord, and the lost son received safe and sound. The true penitent’s ~tears are indeed the wine that maketh glad both God and man.: If it be little that men and angels would rejoice at thy conversion, know thou that God himself would rejoice over thee, even with singing,” and # rest in his love.” Never did Jacob with such joy weep over the neck of his Joseph, as thy heavenly Father would rejoice over thee upon thy coming to him. Look over the story of the Prodigal Son. Methinks I see how the aged father lays aside his state and forgetteth his years; behold, how he runneth!- O the haste that mercy makes: the sinner makes not half that speed. Methinks I see how his bowels move, how his compassions yearn. How quick-sighted is love! Mercy spies him a great way off;. forgets his’ riotous courses, unnatural rebellion, horrid unthankfulness—not a word of these —and receives him with open arms, clasps him about his neck, kisses him; calls for the fatted calf, the best robe, the ring, the shoes, the best cheer in heaven’s store, the best attire in heaven’s wardrobe. Yea, the joy-cannot be held in his own breast. Others must be called to participate. The friends sympathize; but none knows the joy the father has in his new-born son, whom he hath received from the dead. Methinks I hear the music at a distance. O the melody of the heavenly choristers! I cannot learn the song, Rev. 14: 3, but methinks I overhear the burden; at which all the harmonious choir with one consent strike sweetly in: “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” I need not farther explain the parable: God is the father: Christ is the provision; his righteousness the robe; his grace the ornaments; ministers, saints, and angels, the friends and servants; and thou that readest, if thou wilt but unfeignedly repent and turn, the welcome prodigal, the happy instance of this grace, the blessed subject of this joy and love.
O rock; O adamant! What, not moved yet; not yet resolved to turn forthwith and to close with mercy? I will try thee yet once again. If one were sent to thee. from the dead, wouldst thou be persuaded? Why, hear the voice from the dead, from the damned, crying to thee that thou shouldst repent: “I pray thee that thou wouldst send him to my father’s house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment: if one went to them from the dead, they will repent.” Hear, O man; thy predecessors in impenitence preach to thee from the infernal flames, that thou shouldst repent. O look down into the bottomless pit; seest thou how the smoke of their torment ascendeth for ever and ever? What thinkest thou of those chains of darkness? Canst thou be content to burn? Seest thou how the worm gnaweth, how the fire rageth? What sayest thou to that gulf of perdition; wilt thou take up thine habitation there? O lay thine ear to the door of hell: hearest thou the curses and blasphemies, the weepings and wailings, how they lament their follies and curse their day? How do they roar and gnash their teeth; how deep their groans; how inconceivable their miseries! If the shrieks of