Use 4

USE IIII.

Let this consideration be an argument to persuade with sinners to hearken to such as these, when they speak to them from God. If they are so earnest with God to spare you, let them then be bid welcome, when they are earnest to persuade you to break off your sins by repentance; to convince you of your barrenness, and unprofitableness, and excite you to fruitfulness: one would think this should give them a welcome reception: though they come to testify against your sins, and persuade you to part with your lusts and vanities and betake yourselves to God: and to this end that you may, be persuaded of these three things.

1. Believe that they know what is your concern. That they see your danger, and understand how the case stands between God and you; else they would not be so importunate with God, if they did not see evil to be threatening of you; and if they discover the tokens of God's indignation, it is not to be slighted. God is wont to let them know what he is about to do, and to touch their heart with a deep sense of it: if therefore they tell you of an evil day nigh and accordingly warn you of the danger you are in by reason of your present state, it is not to be slighted, or made a light matter of. If they are faithful, God trusts them with his secret, and they cannot but truly declare the mind of God to you as they find it; and it is your folly and damage too to be persuading yourselves, and suspecting them, that Baruch sets them on.

2. Believe that they love you. It is hard to persuade sinners who love their sin, to think that any can love their persons that set themselves against their corruptions: Ahab hates Micaiah, because he never speaks good of him; and therefore thinks that he hates him: ask yourselves; if they did not love you, would they be so foolish as to expose themselves, to your anger, that they may do you good? Did they not love you, would they set themselves so earnestly to implore God for you, and seek your preservation? They hate your sins indeed, because they know that they will undo you, if not forsaken: but they love your souls, and therefore seek their salvation. If they did not love you, they would not willingly stand between an angry God, and angry sinners. Would you but solemnly think what it is for that they are treating so seriously with you, you would be persuaded of this, that they are unweariedly bent to seek your salvation; and if this be not love, what is.

3. Think then that it is your interest to hearken to them. It fares with God's ministers as it did with Joshua, Israel fly before their enemies; Joshua falls upon his face and prays; and God says to him, what do you do here? Up, Israel has sinned, thus God's servants see the owner of the vineyard angry, and hear him speak of cutting down such a fig-tree, they beg of him to spare it a little, not to be so angry; and God says to them, go see if such an one will be reformed, amended, and bear fruit, else I will certainly cut him down. For this reason therefore they come to you: and for this end they set themselves to convince, reprove, warn, counsel, entreat, you. And let it be a solemn word to urge this advice upon you, to consider that if they cannot after all prevail with you to entertain their counsels, they will not be long able to hold God's hands; but he will say to them, pray no more for that sinner. It may be this year also he may wait, but if still you continue as you were, what shall become of you next, the Lord knows, but if you hear your souls shall live.