scudderpage245

Page 245

increased. Thus Satan and a fearful heart delude many.

It must be acknowledged, that God would have all men walk and work while they have light, John xii. 35, because the night will come on, when no man can work, John ix. 4. And whilst it is called to-day, Heb. iii. 15, he would have every one return, and accept of grace offered, and not to harden their hearts against it. And our Saviour bewails Jerusalem, because they despised the day of their visitation, Luke xix. 42 - 44. All which shows, that God has his set period of time, between his first and last offer of grace, which being passed, he will offer it no more; and that justly, because they took not his offer when they might. And this time is kept so secret with God, that if he offer grace to-day, who can tell whether he will offer it tomorrow; or whether he will offer it again? Who knows whether God will take him from the means of salvation, or will take the means of salvation from him? All this our holy and wise God has revealed in his word, to make men wise to take the opportunity and time of grace while it is offered. Wherefore, whosoever have neglected their first times and offers of grace, have sinned and played the fool egregiously; for which they have cause to be much humbled. But for you to conclude hence that the date and time of your conversion is out, this has no sufficient ground. For it is not possible for you to know, that your time of conversion is past all recovery. But you should rather for the present time believe, and hope that it is not passed. Indeed, presumptuously to put off receiving grace until to-morrow, is foolish and dangerous; but if God give you time till to-morrow, that you live, and it can be said to-day; so long as you yet live, and the means of salvation are not from you, either in their exercise, or out of your remembrance; but you do yet live to hear what God has commanded you to do, and to hear what good things he yet offers unto you with Christ; or if the means be taken from you, or you are detained from them by sickness, &c., so long as you yet live to call to remembrance what God