scarcely discernible, that thou mayest attain an interest in him?  Doth he now and then glance in some of the promises into thy heart, causing them to leave some heavenly savor, though but for a short time, on thy spirit?  Dost thou at times see some little excellency in Christ, and doth it stir up in thy soul some breathings after him?  If so, then fear not.  The day of grace is not passed with thy poor soul; for if the day of grace should be passed with such a soul as this, then that scripture must be broken, where Christ saith, “Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise,” upon no terms whatsoever, “cast out.”  John 6:37.

Get thy heart warmed with the sweet promise of Christ’s acceptance of the coming sinner, and that will make thee make more haste unto him.  Discouraging thoughts are like unto cold weather; they benumb the senses and make us go ungainly about our business; but the sweet and warm gleeds [Footnote:  Glowing coals.] of promise are like the comfortable beams of the sun, which enliveneth and refresheth.  You see how little the bee and the fly do play in the air in winter—­why, the cold hinders them from doing it:  but when the wind and sun are warm, who so busy as they?

Objection.  But saith another, “I am so heartless, so slow, and, as I think, so indifferent in my coming, that to speak truth, I know not whether my kind of coming ought to be called a coming to Christ.”

Answer.  I read of some that are to follow Christ in chains—­I say, to come after him in chains.  Isa. 45:14.  Surely they that come after Christ in chains, come to him in great difficulty.

And what chain so heavy as those that discourage thee?  Thy chain, which is made up of guilt and filth, is heavy; it is a wretched band about thy neck, by which thy strength doth fail.  But come, though thou comest in chains; it is glory to Christ, that a sinner comes after him in chains.  The chinking of thy chains, though troublesome to thee, is not, nor can be, destruction to thy salvation.  It is Christ’s work and glory to save thee from thy chains, to enlarge thy steps, and set thee at liberty.  The blind man, though called, surely could not come apace to Jesus Christ; but Jesus Christ could stand still and stay for him.

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 offers, 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, to despise these must needs be a provoking; and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Objection.  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.”