Use 4

USE IV.

Let it be for a loud call to barren souls in the vineyard, at last to bear fruit, and to make haste so to do. It is God only who [illegible] word powerful, and work that [illegible] but yet there is a calling of the [illegible] by Gospel invitation, and this Truth speaks very loudly to all those that have been a great while unprofitable, and on whom uncountable means of grace have seemed to have been thrown away; who have been wearying out of a great deal of God's forbearance; and yet he affords them one season more, one opportunity longer. Let this doctrine awaken you to a diligent improving of it, to be no longer barren. Let the time past suffice you, to have lived in sin and vanity. As you would escape this fearful destruction, use all possible endeavors, and go to God in Christ's Name with the greatest importunity begging of him that he will make you fruitful. And that I may press this exhortation upon you forcibly, let me offer these things to your serious consideration.

1. Think how long you have already resisted the Spirit of God. Although he has not told sinners how long he will tarry waiting upon them; yet he has said that it shall not be always, and that is enough to put upon you thoughtfulness. It is good to compute the time that you have had, and is past by you, so many years forbearance, so many strivings with your souls in them, so often addresses made to you with the tenders of his grace. All this says to the sinner, that his day is wearing up apace, and that it will not be long ere it be spent. And there is reason also to fear, that the [illegible] of means have been used with you, and the more earnest persuasions have been pressed upon you, the shorter time you are like to have; because such urgent strivings and importunities, are a declaration that God is in haste.

2. Think what a holy God you have to do withal. Never cheat yourselves into a vain opinion, that because he is a merciful God, therefore you shall do well enough with him. How many thousands are there now rueing that folly in the place of torments? You are in all these transactions concerned with a God who will not always be trifled with; and who will not suffer sinners to tread upon his honor, or cast contempt upon his glory, without calling of them to a severe account for it, and making them to feel the smart of it. If therefore you will not serve him, he will honor himself upon you; but how little will that be to your comfort.

Hence;

3. Affect your hearts by thinking how fearful this destruction must needs be. How dismal a thing it will be for you, after all this to fall into the hands of revenging justice. Think, if I bear no fruit, I must needs be destroyed at last, and will not all these things be then remembered against me? And how much better would it then have been, if I had been cut off by such a stroke that fell upon me, and I was endangered by? Had I not better have perished so many years ago, than to have been let alive to fill up so much more wrath, and lay in so many heavier aggravations of guilt, to make my woes of much the more intolerable.

4. Know it that if now at last you will hearken to the voice of God, and accept of his grace to make you fruitful, all shall be well still. If yet before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, you will give glory to God, you may escape this fearful sentence. This very last threatening which I am now urging upon you, it is sent to you in mercy, and I am commanded to tell you of it before it comes to pass; that so you may have, at least, one more advantage presented before you to escape it. And oh let it not be despised; if you neglected the last Sabbath's encouragement, yet if you will entertain this Sabbath's terror, and be persuaded to repent and return to God, it is not yet too late for you to escape the curse, and obtain the blessing.

5. Think this may be the last call that ever shall be sent to you. There will be a last I am sure to every impenitent sinner, and it is not improbable but this may be so to some or other on whom it is now urged. There have past very few Sabbaths of late, in which some have not come to the House of God to hear their last. What need have you then to take heed what entertainment you give hereunto. You are fig-trees in the vineyard, you have had many a three years liberty of it, God has sought fruit of you, and found none, he has been greatly provoked hereby and brought many judgments in the midst of you, and yet has by the importunity of his servants been prevailed with to defer and tarry a little longer. But he tells you he is in haste, his word says so, his providence says so. Oh do not then loiter any longer, the matter is of infinite concernment, and it will in a few days more be determined. You have the choice now before you, and you must make it speedily: either conversion or destruction, and the Lord make you wise in it, for yet a little while, and according as your choice is, so must it be with you through all eternity.

FINIS,