But then conſider how he invites all Sinners to come unto him, and, that he will give them rest,
Matt. 11. 28. for he aſſures us, that he came to ſeek and to ſave that which was lost,
Luke 19. 10, Mat. 18. 11. and hath promiſed, that he that cometh unto him, he will in no wiſe cast out,
John 6. 37.
So that if now you will ſincerely turn to him, tho’ late, even at the eleventh Hour,
Mat. 20. 6, 9. he will receive you.
But ſurely I need not tell you, that the Terms of his Mercy is Faith and Repentance.
And do not miſtake the Nature of Repentance to be only a bare Sorrow for your Sins, ariſing from the Conſideration of the Evil and Puniſhment they have now brought upon you; but your Sorrow muſt ariſe from the Conſideration of your having offended a gracious and merciful God.
But I ſhall not pretend to give you any particular Directions as to the Nature of Repentance: I conſider that I ſpeak to a Perſon, whoſe Offences have proceeded not ſo much from his not knowing, as his ſlighting and neglecting his Duty: Neither is it proper for me to give Advice out of the Way of my own Profeſſion.
You may have that better delivered to you by thoſe who have made Divinity their particular Study; and who, by their Knowledge, as well as their Office, as being the Ambaſſadors of Christ,
2 Cor. 5. 20. are beſt qualified to give you Inſtructions therein.
I only heartily wiſh, that what, in Compaſſion to your Soul, I have now ſaid to you upon this ſad and ſolemn Occaſion, by exhorting you in general to Faith and Repentance, may have that due Effect upon you, that thereby you may become a true Penitent.
And therefore having now diſcharged my Duty to you as a Chriſtian, by giving you the beſt Coun-
ſel