Sinners Ought to Repent Now

SINNERS ought to Repent NOW.

*Jer. 25.5.* They said, turn you again NOW every one from his evil way.

This Chapter contains the substance of a Sermon preached by the Prophet Jeremiah, wherein he declares that destroying judgments were coming upon the Jews: and mentions the reason of it — namely, because of their impenitency and obstinacy in sin. That they were obstinate in their evil way, appeared by their refusing to hearken to the good counsels and admonitions of those whom God had sent to them. And this evil was aggravated,

1. In that they had been a long time spoken to. The Prophet tells them that at the day when he delivered that Sermon, he had himself been preaching to them three and twenty years, and all that time urging them to repentance, but they would not regard what was spoken to them in the name of the Lord — this was great contumacy.

2. Their obstinacy was yet more aggravated, in that God had told them of their sins, and what would be the consequent thereof, not only by Jeremiah, but by many other Prophets. Ver. 4. the Lord has sent to you all his servants the Prophets, rising early and sending them; but you have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. The Lord speaks after the manner of men, and says his heart was upon it, (as a man whose heart is engaged in business will rise early to see it done; thus God did earnestly endeavour) to reclaim them from their evil ways, but they would not hear, though Prophet after Prophet was sent to them for a long time together. This argued great hardness of heart, to contemn such persons as the holy Prophets were, and not one of them, but many of them, yes all of them.

The words which have been read, express the sum of the doctrine taught by the Prophets, namely,

1. That every man should turn from his evil way.

2. That men should not delay that work. They did not only say, Turn, but turn NOW. The doctrine therefore at present to be insisted on is,

DOCT. That every sinner to whom the word of the Lord comes, is bound to turn from his evil way, and that NOW without delaying.

The explication and confirmation of this truth may be expressed in 4 propositions, all which are comprehended in the doctrine delivered.

Propos 1. Sin is an evil. In the Scripture sin is often compared to a way. It is therefore in the 1st Psalm and the 1st verse: Blessed is the man that stands not (that is, that remains not) in the way of sinners — that is, in sin, which is the way that sinners delight to abide in. Hence men are said to walk in sin (Ephesians 2:2), and to go on therein (Psalm 68:21). And it is an evil way — Wisdom says, The evil way do I hate (Proverbs 8:13) — that is, the way of sin: which is also called the way which is not good (Psalm 36:4). Sin is said to be an evil way especially in 2 respects,

1. In that men thereby go from God the chief Good. That which leads men from God the chief Good must needs be an evil way. Now is this true of sin. Men by sin turn from God; and the more they sin the further do they go from God. Jer. 2:5. They are gone far from me. A sinner has been doing nothing else but departing from God all his days; so that there is an infinite distance between God and him. Ephesians 2:13. You were sometimes far off — that is, far off from God, and from Heaven. And the longer a man lives in sin, the greater is the separation between God and his soul. For his back is turned upon God. Jer. 32:33. They have turned to me the back and not the face. And therefore the longer a sinner shall go on in his present way, the further will he be from God and from Heaven, and from all happiness. Sin then is an evil way. It appears to be so,

2. In that it is a way which if continued in, will bring to misery at last. All men look upon punishment as evil: now sin if it be not turned from will certainly be punished at last. Jer. 2:18. Know therefore and see, that it is an evil thing and bitter that you have forsaken the Lord your God. Bitter punishments are sometimes inflicted on sinners in this world. Temporal judgments on the bodies, estates, names, families; and spiritual judgments on the souls of sinners use to follow upon the going on in sin. To be sure if sin be not turned from, it will end in death. Romans 6:22. The end of these things is death. Hence sin is compared to a way, because it leads men to destruction. Proverbs 7:27. Her house is the way to Hell, going down to the chambers of death. Hell is an undesirable place; therefore sin which is the way there, must needs be an evil way.

Propos. 2. Every sinner has a way of sin. That's implied in the text, when it is said, Turn you every man from his evil way. Every man that is in a state of sin and unregeneracy, does walk in some way of sin or other which he must turn from. This is the difference between a regenerate and an unregenerate man. A regenerate man may indeed fall into sin, but then he's out of his way which he uses to walk in. Psalm 119:128. I hate every false way. And in verse 101. he says, I have refrained my feet from every evil way. Hence sin is said to be to the Lord's people, a way not cast up (that is, not frequented) (Jeremiah 18:15). Never since the world began did a godly man walk in that way. There's a difference between sinning and having a way of sinning. There is no man that does good and sins not, and there is no good man that has a way of sinning. Psalm 139, ult. See if there be any way of wickedness in me. But every unregenerate man has a way of wickedness which he chooses to go in. A way of sin implies a track, a course of sin; when a man shall make sin his trade: so it is with every ungodly man. He is a worker of iniquity, a committer of sin, a doer of it (John 8:34). Some sinners live in more sins than one: in pride, in drunkenness, in uncleanness, and all at the same time. Serving divers lusts (Titus 3:3). But every sinner has at least one sin, which he loves and lives in, and will not be persuaded to forsake that evil way. It is sweet in his mouth. He spares it and forsakes it not, but keeps it [illegible] his mouth (Job 20:13). A hypocrite [illegible] far: he may forego many sins (as [illegible] did) yet there is some sin or other which is an evil way that his soul is going to destruction in.

Propos. 3. Every sinner to whom the Word of God comes, is bound to turn from his evil way. The first thing which God required of man was that he should not sin at all. The Law required that: nor does the Law speak any thing of repentance, but the Gospel does. The Law requires that men should not turn from God; the Gospel requires that men having turned from God, should turn to him again. Faith and repentance are the great duties required in the Gospel. This was the scope and sum of all the Apostles' preaching (Acts 20:21), testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And this commandment reaches every sinner where the Gospel comes (chapter 17:30): Now God commands all men every where to repent. True repentance consists chiefly in turning from sin. Hence it is sometimes called conversion. When a man is gone out of the right way, and turns back again, that's conversion. So it is with sinners: they are all gone astray; but God in the word of the Gospel calls aloud to them that they should turn back again. And that turning from sin which the Word of God requires, is to be both external and internal. It is necessary that a sinner should lead a new life, that his outward actions and conversation should be reformed (Jeremiah 7:3): Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings. But that's not all which God requires. He calls for the heart. Many a man turns from sin outwardly for fear of punishment either from God or man, who yet loves it in his heart still. But the Word of God requires that men should hate sin (Romans 12:9): Abhor that which is evil. When a man's heart within him is turned and set against sin as sin, then he has truly experienced that conversion which the Word of God requires (Ezekiel 18:31): Cast away from you all your transgressions, and make you a new heart. That's a new heart which hates sin and loves holiness. And that sinners might be persuaded to this turning, the Word of God is full of gracious promises to repenting, returning sinners. God in his Word assures them, that they shall find mercy, whatever their provocations and rebellions have been (Isaiah 55:7): Let the wicked forsake his way, and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon. God promises the sinner his life if he will return. He says, turn yourselves and live you. And if the wicked be warned from his wicked way, he shall save his life (Ezekiel 3:18 and 18:32). Heaven is promised to returning sinners. Thus in my text, Turn every one from his evil way — and dwell in the land for ever and ever. There's something spiritual ultimately intended in those words — namely, that every one that truly repents of sin shall dwell in Heaven for evermore, of which dwelling in the land of Canaan was a figure. And the Word of God denounces no less than eternal death to every sinner that will not turn (Ezekiel 33:11): Say to them, as I live says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked: but that the wicked should turn from his way and live. Turn you, turn you from [illegible] evil ways for why will you die, O house of Israel. This is the great voice of God in his word to every sinner; the great design of the Scriptures both in the Old and New Testament is to declare this, that the sinner who shall turn from all his sins shall live, but the sinner that will not turn from all his sins shall die for ever. Thus says God to every soul of man, to whom his Word comes, you must either turn from your evil way, or burn for ever in the fire that shall never be quenched.

Propos. 4. Men ought not only to turn from every evil way but to do it now, and in no wise to delay that matter. Thus did the Prophets with one voice declare, as is in the context intimated. And indeed this follows upon what has been spoken. If God command men to turn, it is necessary that they should do it now. For every commandment of God ought to be immediately complied with. There ought to be no delaying, or disputing whether what the great God requireth should be obeyed or no. When the Lord commanded Abraham to circumcise his family, it is noted that in the self same day he did as God said to him (Genesis 17:23). And when he was required to sacrifice his only son, it is recorded of him, that he rose early in the morning, and went to the place of which God had told him (Genesis 22:3). When the Lord Christ called his disciples to follow him it is said, that straightway they did so (Matthew 4:20). And when Paul was called to the apostleship, he did not consult with flesh and blood, that is, he did not ask counsel of any man whether he should do what God required of him, but immediately fell about the work (Galatians 1:16). Thus every divine precept ought presently to be complied with. So should this of turning from every evil way. And there is infinite reason that men should turn now; as we cannot but see if we duly mind, either what they are commanded to turn from, or whom they are to turn to.

1. What is it that sinners are to turn from? It is from sin, which is an unprofitable thing. Men don't use to stand considering whether they shall retain a thing which they are sure they shall never gain any thing by: now they may be sure they shall never gain any thing by sin (Romans 6:21). What fruit had you of those things whereof you are now ashamed? There is nothing but shame and sorrow to be gained by sin. Yes, it is not only an unprofitable, but a hurtful thing. If a man were running into the mouth of a bloody serpent ready to devour him, would he stand pausing upon it whether he should turn back? No, he would presently turn about. Sin is a cruel serpent which devoureth immortal souls, and therefore it is the greatest madness in the world for men to make a question whether he should not presently turn from such an evil.

2. Who is it that sinners are to turn to? It is to God in Jesus Christ. Turn you even to me with all your heart, says the Lord (Joel 2:12). Even to that God who is the fountain of living water. He in whose favor is life, and whose loving kindness is better than life itself. He who will give grace and glory, and will withhold no good thing from them that shall turn to him.

Use. Let it be a word of earnest exhortation. Oh that every sinner would be persuaded to do as the doctrine says, to turn from his evil way, and to do it now without delaying.

Consider 1st. The sinner that will turn now shall be happy. Whatever your sins have been, suppose they were never so many, or never so great, if you do turn now, God will pardon your sins and save your soul. It may be that there is some sinner that has secret fears and questionings with himself, If I should [illegible] from my evil way, would God accept of so great a sinner as I have been? I answer, If you will turn now, I do assure you in his name, God will accept of you. For his Word says, Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Now, now, is your time to turn to God if you would find acceptance with him, or desire to be saved. If you do not turn now, just now, it is more than I or any man living can assure you that ever your soul shall be saved. [illegible] do you find in Scripture that he that turns to morrow, shall be accepted? Boast not yourself of to morrow, for you know not what a day may bring forth. The Apostle says in the 3rd chapter to the Hebrews, To day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. And again to day, and a third time to day. But he that will harden his heart against the voice of God in his Word calling him to repentance to day, it may be will think of repentance when it is too late.

Consider 2. That no man ever repented him that he turned to God too soon, but every man in the world either has or shall be sorry that he turned no sooner. There never was an instance of a man truly converted, who wished he had not been converted so soon. There have been some that have turned from sin in their youth, yes, in their childhood; ask any such, do you repent of your early conversion, they will say no, but we wish we had turned a great deal sooner. Austin, I remember says, Nimis sero Te amare caepi! Alas O Lord, I began to love you later than I wish I had done. And there is no unconverted sinner in the world, but he will one day wish that he had turned from his evil ways sooner. If ever the Lord give him repentance to life, then will he be sorry in his heart, that he was so long before he had any saving acquaintance with God and with Jesus Christ. Paul speaks sorrowfully of his late conversion (1 Corinthians 15:8). And last of all he was seen of me, as of one born out of due time. He was troubled to think that he had lived so many years in the world before he knew Christ. Or if a sinner shall be so unhappy as to die in his evil way, he will for ever wish, when it is too late, that he had hearkened to the call of the Gospel requiring him to turn now (Proverbs 1:28). Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. When the day of grace is past, and when the day of life is spent and gone, sinners will reflect upon themselves with infinite anguish, and say, What fools were we that did not turn from sin in time, but now the sun is set, and the day is become dark over us for ever. Had we sought after reconciliation with God sooner, we might have obtained it: but woe and alas for us, now it will never be.

Consider 3. In other matters men are unwilling either to delay, or to be delayed. There is many a poor foolish sinner, that if he does but hear of a play to be acted, or any thing which is a matter of sport and pastime, he'll be early at it: he will not let slip the time, but rather be too soon than too late. But when he is called upon to look after the salvation of his own soul, he puts that off from day to day, as if that could never be too late. In worldly matters, especially if they be of moment, men have so much wisdom as to dispatch them out of hand. It was said of Boaz when an affair that did greatly concern him was to be issued, The man will not be at rest until he has finished the thing this day (Ruth 3:18). And yet as to the work of repentance, and making their peace with God, than which nothing can be of greater concernment, sinners can be at rest from day to day; no, from year to year, though that work be not finished, nor so much as begun: how sad is it to consider! You cannot bear delays from others, yet must the great God bear delays from you? If any of you should command his servant to do such a work presently, but he says he'll take his own time and not yours, how would you bear it! But when God commands you to turn now, will you take your own time and not God's to do it? You cannot bear delays from God himself: if men be in any distress, they are ready to say, Lord make haste to our help! Hear us speedily! Make no tarrying; why then when God calls to you to turn from your evil way, make haste and make no tarrying. If any among you should be in grievous tormenting pain, and should cry to God for help, but he should put you off, and say, Twenty or thirty years I'll consider about the matter; how impatient would you be! And will you then say to God, I'll turn from my evil ways 20 or 30 years hence, whereas the Lord says, Do it NOW.

4. Let sinners sadly consider whom they gratify, and whom they grieve by delaying their conversion. They please their greatest enemy, and displease their best Friend. You cannot gratify your adversary the Devil more: who is it that says to you, Will you think of turning from your sins? it will be soon enough for that hereafter. No one but the Devil or such as are stirred up by him, will suggest such a thought to you. He knows that if he can but persuade you to delay your conversion a while longer, he shall make sure of your soul. He always tells sinners either that it is too soon for them to turn to God, or else that it is too late. If he should see you in earnest about that matter, he would say it is too late now: but as long as you are careless about it, he says it is too soon; thereby hoping to persuade you to delay until it be too late indeed, and then he will deride you for your folly. So that if a man would study to gratify the Devil, he could not do it more than by deferring his repentance. But then, whom do you grieve thereby? All the good men that know you are grieved for you: your nearest relations are so if they fear God. It may be you have a godly father, or a godly mother: they are grieved to see that you do continue still in your natural unconverted estate. And the angels of heaven are grieved by you. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents (Luke 15:10). So that sinners who delay their repentance hinder the joy of angels. And that which is yet sadder is, you grieve the heart of God by your delaying to turn again from your evil way. The Lord (to speak of Him after the manner of men) thinks the time long, and is grieved that you should slight his calls, and disregard his commands for so long a time. He says, Wash your heart from wickedness, — how long shall vain thoughts lodge in you? (Jeremiah 4:14). And again will you not be made clean? when shall it once be? (Jeremiah 13:27). Yet again, hear another Scripture, How long will it be, ere they attain to innocency? (Hosea 8:5). How long! When? How long! The Spirit of God is grieved by your long delays. He looks upon your delays as refusals and flat denials. He says you are unwilling to return, and that, that's the reason of your delaying so long. This must needs grieve and provoke Him. And why will you displease that God who has been so kind to you?

Consider 5. The infinite danger which is in men's delaying their conversion. Every sinner had need make haste about this matter, because a little delay may cost him his life. The Angel said to Lot (Genesis 19:17), Escape for your life, look not behind you, neither stay you in all the plain; escape to the mountain lest you be consumed. So I say to you, O sinner, don't stay in your present estate, but make haste to Christ as for your life, lest if you lag and linger the fire of Hell take hold on you suddenly, and you be consumed. 'Tis a dangerous thing for a man to defer his repentance though but for one day. One day's delay may cost a man the life of his soul. When Michal told David, saying, If you save not your life tonight, tomorrow you shall be slain, he went and fled and escaped (1 Samuel 19:11, 12). Thus O sinner, if you do not turn from your iniquities this day, it may be tomorrow you shall be slain. So that it is a very dangerous thing for any man to put off his repentance a day longer: because of the uncertainty of life it is so. When once death has given the fatal blow, it's too late for the sinner to think of turning and making his peace with God. Isaiah 38:18: They that go down into the pit cannot hope for your truth. The sinner whose body is gone down into the pit of death, and whose soul is gone down into the pit of eternal darkness, cannot hope that he shall ever be converted, or that ever his soul shall be saved. And who knows how soon the arrow of death may strike him! The thunderbolt of death may kill you before another morning. Then turn from your sins now. I have diverse times put you in mind of an expression of that famous minister of Christ, Mr. Bolton, who would sometimes say, I would not be in my unconverted estate again one day, though I might have all the world for it, lest haply death should come upon me that day, and so my immortal soul be lost for ever. And it is a dangerous thing for men to delay their conversion, because the longer they delay it, the more unlike are they ever to be converted. Sinner it is possible and most probable that now or never is your time to repent in. The longer you do delay, the more unwilling and the more unable to turn are you like to be. For Satan will get faster hold on your soul; and the longer he has held his possession the more difficult will his departure be. We read of one in the Gospel, that the Devil was cast out of him with exceeding difficulty, and when it was asked how long is it ago since this came to him, answer was made, of a child (Mark 9:21). Thus where the Devil has a long time held his possession of a soul, it's a hard matter to get him out. And sin as well as Satan will have deeper rooting and stronger hold on the soul, if conversion be delayed. The sins of men are like bonds upon their souls; it was said to Simon Magus, You are in the bond of iniquity. Now the longer men continue in sin, the stronger do they make that woeful bond: they will find their souls so fettered in the bloody chains of sin, as that it will be a wonder if ever they get loose. Jeremiah 13:23: Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? then may you also do good that are accustomed to do evil. Can it be? It would be strange if it should: such a thing will be a kind of a miracle. The sinner is in a grave: every sin he does commit is as it were another stone cast upon that grave which will make his resurrection the more difficult. And there is infinite danger in men's delaying their conversion, lest God should say of them as he did of the old world of ungodly ones, who deferred their repentance (Genesis 6:3): My spirit shall not always strive with man. Or as it was said of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 24:13): Because I have purged you, and you were not purged, you shall not be purged from your filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon you. It may be your delays may provoke God to inflict spiritual judgments upon you; to give you up to judicial blindness and hardness of heart. There is a most awful passage in the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah, which Scripture is often mentioned in the New Testament, to show that sinners under the Gospel are greatly concerned in it, namely that chapter 6:10: Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert and be healed. If God should say of you, There's such a sinner, I have a long time called upon him by the ministry of the Word, to turn from his evil way, but he has delayed his repentance from one year to another; therefore I am now resolved that he shall never be converted, and that my Word for the future shall have no other effect upon him but to harden his heart and aggravate his eternal condemnation. I say, if God should thus resolve concerning you, he would be just, and you for ever miserable. O tremble lest your sinful delays should provoke the Lord to say of you, as he did of the barren fig tree (Matthew 21:19), [illegible] grow on you henceforward for ever.

Consider, 6. [illegible] been eternally ruined [illegible]. We read of Felix what convictions and what an awakened conscience he had under [illegible] preaching: he had sad thoughts with himself that except he did repent, and turn from his intemperance and his unrighteous way, it would go ill with him at the day of [illegible]; but delays proved the ruin of his [illegible]. He said, Go your way for this time, and when I have a convenient season I will send for you (Acts 24:25). And thus it is with most of them that perish under the Gospel. There are few men that live under the powerful dispensation of the Gospel, but they have convictions: they know they must repent of sin, but they purpose to do it hereafter; and so by deferring the matter, their souls are eternally ruined ere they are aware. Hell is full of delaying sinners. The Devil has not a greater stratagem to ruin souls by than this. He that will never repent while tomorrow, will never repent at all. Therefore the Devil's great design is, to persuade the sinner still to defer his repentance until tomorrow, that so it may never be.

Let these considerations awaken every one that is in a state of sin, now to turn and live. There are some of you that have continued a long time in a natural unregenerate estate: perhaps you have lived in the world, 30, or 40, or it may be sixty years, and in an unconverted estate to this day. It is time to seek the Lord. 'Tis high time for you to consider your ways and to look about you. Think not with yourself, I'll repent when I come to lie down upon my sick bed. How do you know that you shall lie upon a sick bed at all? It may be some sudden stroke will take you out of the world, and where will your soul be then? Or if you should be visited with sickness, that's no suitable time to repent in — perhaps you will then lie to God with your mouth, and flatter him with your lips. Sick-bed repentance is very seldom true. How often do we see, that sinners on sick beds make fair promises, to God and man, but when they are recovered they become as bad or worse than ever they were before. Yes, and it may be then you will cry out, it is too late now. Did you never hear of a man who delaying his repentance till he came to lie upon his sick bed, when he was told he must repent of sin, replied, all too late: and when he was exhorted to pray to God for pardon of his past transgressions, he made the same reply, All too late! If I had hearkened to this counsel sooner, it had been happy for me, but all's too late now! If you delay your repentance till then, perhaps this will be your bitter cry when you shall feel your departing soul going into the other world.

And you that are young, remember what the Scripture says, You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe fruits (Exodus 22:29). I beseech, I exhort, I charge every soul of you, who are yet in your sins, that you turn now — say not, but then I must never see merry day more. Suppose that were true — is it not better to live a mournful life in this world for a short time, and then to be in fullness of joy, and to have pleasures for evermore, than to live a short life and a merry, but afterwards your soul to smoke for it in the ever-burning lake? I have read of a man who when he lay on his death-bed, uttered this expression, I have enjoyed the pleasures of sin for a short season, and now I must be in torment for it, for more than millions of millions of ages. Oh consider of it. And remember also, that no man has any true joy or solid comfort, in any thing until such time as he has turned from his sins, and made his peace with God, through Jesus Christ.

To direct and help you here,

1. Practice that great duty of self-examination. Look into your heart and way, and see if there be not some sin, which you must of necessity turn from, or die for it. Some, their sins are so notorious that they can't but know that they live in sin. Swearers, Sabbath-breakers, drunkards, unclean persons and such like, they cannot but know that they must repent or perish. But then there be others, who are of a civil, blameless conversation before men, and these are more apt to be deceived. But search your heart, and perhaps you will find that sin reigns there. It may be there is some sin of commission which you live in, which your heart delights in. Or some sin of omission, perhaps you do live in the neglect of prayer from day to day. Lamentations 3:40: Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. If men would search impartially, they would be more likely to turn. Alas many do not turn, because they think that work is done already; whereas they have turned only from some sins, and not from all. Take heed lest some secret unknown sin which you are unwilling to see prove the ruin of your soul. O for the Lord's sake be not deceived: and therefore examine your own hearts and estates before the Lord.

2. Set yourselves to consider seriously of those things wherein your souls, and everlasting estates are concerned. Sinners are apt to put off all good exhortations, by saying, they cannot convert themselves. True, but you may use the means; of which serious consideration is none of the least. You may consider and ponder of things between God and your own souls if you will; and who knows but that the effect of it may be conversion. David mentions this as the reason of his turning into the ways of God (Psalms 119:59, 60): I thought on my ways and turned my feet to your testimonies: I made haste and delayed not to keep your commandments. If men would think, belike they would turn. Serious consideration would cause them to make haste and not delay their repentance. The sinners in Samaria persisted in their evil way, why? It is said, They consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness (Hosea 7:2). If a sinner would go alone and consider in his heart that God has taken notice of all his sins, and will one day call him to an account for every one of them, without repentance; it may be that would awaken him so, as that he would immediately turn from his evil way. Oh that you would go alone, and think with yourselves, every one of you that are yet in your sins — if I should die this night what would become of my poor soul? If a sinner would but consider the danger that he is in; and that his immortal soul is hanging over the mouth of hell only by the rotten thread of a frail life, if that break, (as it may the next moment) down falls his soul into the bottomless pit. I say, if sinners would but consider this, they would surely make as great haste out of their sins, as ever Lot did out of Sodom.

In the Lord's Name and strength, take up a firm resolution now to turn from sin. There are many that have faint purposes that way, but they don't come up to a full resolution. Austin in his Confessions acknowledges that it was so with him; he had thoughts of turning from his evil way, but still put it off, until God came in mightily upon his heart, as he read that Scripture (Romans 13:11, 12). Now it is high time to awake out of sleep, the night is far spent the day is at hand, &c. And then he said, Why not NOW Lord? I have thought with myself many a time, I would turn from my evil way, sometime hereafter, but why not now Lord? And from that hour he was fixedly and for ever resolved against every sin.

O let your heart within you resolve so too. And therefore resolve now upon prayer to God that it may be so. Resolve to continue praying as Ephraim did, Turn you me O Lord, and I shall be turned.