This, I say, is a testimony, a second testimony by the same man.

“And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”  I shall here speak a word or two to him that is coming, after backsliding, to Jesus Christ for life.

Thy way, O thou sinner of a double dye, thy way is open to come to Jesus Christ.  I mean thee, whose heart, after long backsliding, doth think of turning to him again.  Thy way, I say, is open to him, as is the way of the other sorts of comers; as appears by what follows.

1.  Because the text makes no exception against thee.  It doth not say, “And any one but a backslider; any one but him.”  The text doth not thus object, but indefinitely openeth wide its golden arms to every coming soul, without the least exception.  Therefore thou mayest come.  And take heed that thou shut not that door against thy soul by unbelief, which God has opened by his grace.

2.  Nay, the text is so far from excepting against thy coming, that it strongly suggesteth that thou art one of the souls intended, O thou coming backslider; else why need that clause have been so inserted, “I will in no wise cast out?” as if he should say, “Though those that come now are such as have formerly backslidden, I will in no wise cast away the fornicator, the covetous, the railer, the drunkard, or other common sinners, nor yet the backslider neither.”

If thou yet, instead of repenting and doing thy first works, dost remain a backslider,

1.  Then remember that thou must die; and remember also, that when the terrors of God, of death, and a back-slidden heart meet together, there will be sad work in that soul:  this is the man that hangeth tilting over the mouth of hell, while death is cutting the thread of his life.

2.  Remember, that though God doth sometimes, yea, often, receive backsliders, yet it is not always so.  Some draw back unto perdition; for, because they have flung up God and would none of him, he in justice flings up them and their souls for ever.  Prov.  I:  24-28.

XIII.  THE CHRISTIAN RACE.

They that will go to heaven must run for it, because, as the way is long, so the time in which they are to get to the end of it is very uncertain; the time present is the only time:  it may be thou hast no more time allotted thee than that thou now enjoyest:  “Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”  Do not say, I have time enough to get to heaven seven years hence; for I tell thee the bell may toll for thee before seven days more be ended; and when death comes, away thou must go, whether thou art provided or not; and therefore look to it—­make no delays—­it is not good dallying with things of so great concernment as the salvation or damnation of thy soul.  You know, he that hath a great way to go in a little time, and less by half than he thinks of, he had need to run for it.