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　savour
  upon　thy　spirit；　yea；　though　it　stays　but　one　moment　with　thee？　　O
  then　the　day　of　grace　is　not　past！　　The　gate　of　heaven　is　not　shut！
  nor　God's　heart　and　bowels　withdrawn　from　thee　as　yet。　　Take　heed；
  therefore；　and　beware　that　thou　make　much　of　the　heavenly　gift；　and
  of　that　good　word　of　God　of　the　which　he　has　made　thee　taste。
  Beware；　I　say；　and　take　heed；　there　may　be　a　falling　away　for　all
  this；　but；　I　say；　as　yet　God　has　not　left　thee；　as　yet　he　has　not
  cast　thee　off；　Heb。　vi。　1…9。
  Secondly；　With　respect　to　thy　desires；　what　are　they？　　Wouldst　thou
  be　saved！　　Wouldst　thou　be　saved　with　a　thorough　salvation？　　Wouldst
  thou　be　saved　from　guilt　and　filth　too？　　Wouldst　thou　be　the　servant
  of　thy　Saviour？　　Art　thou　indeed　weary　of　the　service　of　thy　old
  master　the　devil；　sin；　and　the　world？　　And　have　these　desires　put　thy
  soul　to　flight？　　Hast　thou　through　desires　betaken　thyself　to　thy
  heels？　　Dost　fly　to　him　that　is　a　Saviour　from　the　wrath　to　come；　for
  life？　　If　these　be　thy　desires；　and　if　they　be　unfeigned；　fear　not。
  Thou　art　one　of　those　runaways　which　God　has　commanded　our　Lord　to
  receive；　and　not　to　send　thee　back　to　the　devil　thy　master　again；　but
  to　give　thee　a　place　in　his　house；　even　the　place　which　liketh　thee
  best。　　〃Thou　shalt　not　deliver　to　his　master；〃　says　he；　〃the　servant
  which　is　escaped　from　his　master　unto　thee。　　He　shall　dwell　with
  thee；　even　among　you　in　that　place　which　he　shall　choose；　in　one　of
  thy　gates　where　it　liketh　him　best；　thou　shalt　not　oppress　him；〃
  Deut。　xxiii。　15；　16。
  This　is　a　command　to　the　church；　consequently　to　the　Head　of　the
  church；　for　all　commands　from　God　come　to　her　through　her　Head。
  Whence　I　conclude；　that　as　Israel　of　old　was　to　receive　the　runaway
  servant　who　escaped　from　a　heathen　master　to　them；　and　should　not
  dare　to　send　him　back　to　his　master　again；　so　Christ's　church　now；
  and　consequently　Christ　himself；　may　not；　will　not；　refuse　that　soul
  that　has　made　his　escape　from　sin；　Satan；　the　world；　and　hell；　unto
  him；　but　will　certainly　let　him　dwell　in　his　house；　among　his　saints；
  in　that　place　which　he　shall　choose；　even　where　it　liketh　him　best。
  For　he　says　in　another　place；　〃And　him　that　cometh　to　me；　I　will　in
  no　wise　cast　out。〃　　In　no　wise；　let　his　crimes　be　what　they　will；
  either　for　nature；　multitude；　or　the　attendance　of　aggravating
  circumstances。
  Wherefore；　if　thy　desires　be　firm；　sound；　and　unfeigned　to　become　the
  saved　of　Christ；　and　his　servant；　fear　not；　he　will　not；　he　will　in
  no　wise　put　thee　away；　or　turn　thee　over　to　thy　old　master　again。
  Thirdly；　As　to　they　fears；　whatever　they　are；　let　that　be　supposed
  which　is　supposed　before；　and　they　are　groundless；　and　so　of　no
  weight。
  Object。　　But　I　am　afraid　I　am　not　elected；　or　chosen　to　salvation；
  though　you　called　me　fool　a　little　before　for　so　fearing。
  Ans。　　Though　election　is；　in　order；　before　calling；　as　to　God；　yet
  the　knowledge　of　calling　must　go　before　the　belief　of　my　election　as
  to　myself。　　Wherefore；　souls　that　doubt　of　the　truth　of　their
  effectual　calling；　do　but　plunge　themselves　into　a　deeper　labyrinth
  of　confusion　that　concern　themselves　with　their　election；　I　mean；
  while　they　labour　to　know　it　before　they　prove　their　calling。　　〃Make
  your　calling；　and　so　your　election；　sure；〃　2　Pet。　i。　4…11。
  Wherefore；　at　present；　lay　the　thoughts　of　thy　election　by；　and　ask
  thyself　these　questions：　　Do　I　see　my　lost　condition？　　Do　I　see
  salvation　is　nowhere　but　in　Christ？　　Would　I　share　in　this　salvation
  by　faith　in　him？　　And　would　I；　as　was　said　before；　be　thoroughly
  saved；　to　wit；　from　the　filth　as　from　the　guilt？　　Do　I　love　Christ；
  his　Father；　his　saints；　his　words；　and　ways？　　This　is　the　way　to
  prove　we　are　elect。　　Wherefore；　sinner；　when　Satan；　or　thine　own
  heart　seeks　to　puzzle　thee　with　election；　say　thou；　I　cannot　attend
  to　talk　of　this　point　now；　but　stay　till　I　know　that　I　am　called　of
  God　to　the　fellowship　of　his　Son；　and　then　I　will　shew　you　that　I　am
  elect；　and　that　my　name　is　written　in　the　book　of　life。
  If　poor　distressed　souls　would　observe　this　order；　they　might　save
  themselves　the　trouble　of　an　unprofitable　labour　under　these
  unreasonable　and　soul…sinking　doubts。
  Let　us　therefore；　upon　the　sight　of　our　wretchedness；　fly　and
  venturously　leap　into　the　arms　of　Christ；　which　are　now　as　open　to
  receive　us　into　his　bosom；　as　they　were　when　nailed　to　the　cross。
  This　is　coming　to　Christ　for　life　aright；　this　is　right　running　away
  from　thy　master　to　him；　as　was　said　before。　　And　for　this　we　have
  multitudes　of　scriptures　to　support；　encourage；　and　comfort　us　in　our
  so　doing。
  But　now；　let　him　that　doth　thus　be　sure　to　look　for　it；　for　Satan
  will　be　with　him　to…morrow；　to　see　if　he　can　get　him　again　to　his　old
  service；　and　if　he　cannot　do　that；　then　will　he　enter　into　dispute
  with　him；　to　wit；　about　whether　he　be　elect　to　life；　and　called
  indeed　to　partake　of　this　Christ；　to　whom　he　is　fled　for　succour；　or
  whether　he　comes　to　him　of　his　own　presumptuous　mind。　　Therefore　we
  are　bid；　as　to　come；　so　to　arm　ourselves　with　that　armour　which　God
  h