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sixth hour of the day； yea； and they who were hired at the third
hour； had their call sooner than they who were called at the
eleventh； Matt。 xx。 1…6。
1。 The day of God's patience began with Ishmael； and also ended
before he was twenty years old。 At thirteen years of age he was
circumcised； the next year after Isaac was born； and then Ishmael was
fourteen years old。 Now that day that Isaac was weaned； that day was
Ishmael rejected； and suppose that Isaac was three years old before
he was weaned； that was but the seventeenth year of Ishmael；
wherefore the day of God's grace was ended with him betimes； Gen。
xvii。 24； 25； chap。 xxi。 2…11； Gal。 iv。 30。
2。 Cain's day ended with him betimes； for after God had rejected
him； he lived to beget many children； and build a city； and to do
many other things。 But alas！ all that while he was a fugitive and a
vagabond。 Nor carried he any thing with him after the day of his
rejection was come； but this doleful language in his conscience；
〃From God's face shall I be hid；〃 Gen。 iv。 10…15。
3。 Esau； through his extravagancies would needs go to sell his
birth…right； not fearing （as other confident fools） but that yet the
blessing would still be his； after which he lived many years； but all
of them under the wrath of God； as was； when time came； made appear
to his destruction； for 〃When he would have inherited the blessing；
he was rejected； for he found no place of repentance； though he
sought it carefully with tears；〃 Heb。 xii。 14…16。
Many instances might be given as to such tokens of the displeasure of
God against such as fool away； as the wise man has it； the prize
which is put into their hand； Prov。 xvii。 16。
Let these things； therefore； be a further caution to those that sit
under the glorious sound of the Gospel； and hear of the riches of the
grace of God in Christ to poor sinners。
To slight grace； to despise mercy； and to stop the ear when God
speaks； when he speaks such great things； so much to our profit； is a
great provocation。
He offereth； he calls； he woos； he invites； he prays； he beseeches us
in this day of his grace to be reconciled to him； yea； and has
provided for us the means of reconciliation himself。 Now； this
despised must needs be provoking； and it is a fearful thing to fall
into the hands of the living God。
But some man may say unto me； Fain I would be saved； fain I would be
saved by Christ； but I fear this day of grace is past； and that I
shall perish； notwithstanding the exceeding riches of the grace of
God。
Answer。 To this doubt I would answer several things。
First； With respect to this day。
Secondly； With respect to thy desires。
Thirdly； With respect to thy fears。
First； With respect to the day； that is； whether it be ended with a
man or no。
1。 Art thou jogged； and shaken and molested at the hearing of the
Word？ Is thy conscience awakened and convinced then that thou art at
present in a perishing state； and that thou hast need to cry to God
for mercy？ This is a hopeful sign that this day of grace is not past
with thee。 For usually they that are past grace； are also； in their
conscience； past feeling； being 〃seared with an hot iron；〃 Eph。 iv。
18； 19； 1 Tim。 iv。 1； 2。
Consequently； those past grace must be such as are denied the
awakening fruits of the Word preached。 〃The dead that hear；〃 says
Christ； 〃shall live；〃 at least while Christ has not quite done with
them； the day of God's patience is not at an end with them； John v。
25。
2。 Is there in thy more retired condition； arguings； strugglings；
and strivings with thy spirit to persuade thee of the vanity of what
vain things thou lovest； and to win thee in thy soul to a choice of
Christ Jesus and his heavenly things？ Take heed and rebel not； for
the day of God's grace and patience will not be past with thee till
he saith his 〃Spirit shall strive no more〃 with thee； for then the
woe comes； when 〃he shall depart from them；〃 and when he says to the
means of grace； 〃Let them alone；〃 Hos。 iv。 17； chap。 ix。 12。
3。 Art thou visited in the night…seasons with dreams about thy
state； and that thou art in danger of being lost？ Hast thou heart…
shaken apprehensions when deep sleep is upon thee； of hell； death；
and judgment to come？ These are signs that God has not wholly left
thee； or cast thee behind his back for ever。 〃For God speaketh once；
yea twice； yet man perceiveth it not； in a dream； in a vision of the
night； when deep sleep falleth upon men； in slumberings upon the bed；
then he openeth the ears of men； and sealeth their instruction； that
he may withdraw man from his purpose （his sinful purposes） and hide
pride from man；〃 Job xxxiii。 14…17。
All this while God has not left the sinner； nor is come to the end of
his patience towards him； but stands at least with the door of grace
a…jar in his hand； as being loth as yet to bolt it against him。
4。 Art thou followed with affliction； and dost thou hear God's angry
voice in thy afflictions？ Doth he send with thy affliction an
interpreter to shew thee thy vileness； and why； or wherefore； the
hand of God is upon thee； and upon what thou hast； to wit； that it is
for thy sinning against him； and that thou mightest be turned to him？
If so； thy summer is not quite ended； thy harvest is not quite over
and gone。 Take heed； stand out no longer； lest he cause darkness；
and lest thy feet stumble upon the dark mountains； and lest； while
you look for light； he turn it into the shadow of death； and make it
gross darkness； Jer。 viii。 20； chap。 xiii。 15…17。
5。 Art thou crossed； disappointed； and way…laid； and overthrown in
all thy foolish ways and doings？ This is a sign God has not quite
left thee； but that he still waits upon thee to turn thee。 Consider；
I say； has he made a hedge and a wall to stop thee？ Has he crossed
thee in all thou puttest thy hand unto？ Take it as a call to turn to
him； for； by his thus doing； he shews he has a mind to give thee a
better portion。 For usually when God gives up men； and resolves to
let them alone in the broad way； he gives them rope； and lets them
have their desires in all hurtful things； Hos。 ii。 6…15； Psalm
lxxiii。 3…13； Rom。 xi。 9。
Therefore take heed to this also； that thou strive not against this
hand of God； but betake thyself to a serious inquiry into the causes
of this hand of God upon thee； and incline to think； it is because
the Lord would have thee look to that； which is better than what thou
wouldst satisfy thyself withal。 When God had a mind to make the
prodigal go home to his father； he sent a famine upon him； and denied
him a bellyful of the husks which the swine did eat。 And observe it；
now he was in a strait； he betook him to consideration of the good
that there was in his father's house； yea； he resolved to go home to
his father； and his father dealt well with him； he received him with
music and dancing； because he had received him safe and sound； Luke
xv。 14…32。
6。 Hast then any enticing thoughts of the word of God upon thy mind？
Doth； as it were； some holy word of God give a glance upon thee； cast
a smile upon thee； let fall； though it be but one drop of its s