A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ... / by Richard Baxter.

Use 3.

BY this time you may see your selves that the disease of sin∣ners is in their own hearts, and it is that that must be healed if they will be saved. But what should we do to get into those hearts, to search your sores, and work the cure? I come now to the principal part of my message to you; but will you indeed en∣tertain it, if it prove it self to be from God? How the case stand∣eth with mankind, you have heard in my Text from Christ him∣self: How One thing is needful; and how the busie-idle world is diverted from this One thing, by many needless troublesom things to their own destruction: If hence I warn you of your danger, and tell you of your duty, and exhort you to take another course

then you have done, I hope you will confess I do but what is need∣full both for you and me, and what you have no reason to con∣tradict. Come then, for the Lords sake, and let us treat practi∣cally and successfully about so great a business; and make some∣thing of it before we leave it; and end not till we amend what we find amiss. What course then will you take for the time to come? Will you go on to trouble your selves about Many things, and neglect the One thing needful as you have done? Dare you harbour such a purpose? Or dare you stifle those thoughts and motions that would tend to better purposes? Or may I not hope that the Light hath shamed your sleepiness and works of dark∣ness, and that you are grieved at the heart for the sinful negli∣gence of heart and life, and resolved now to be new men? For Gods sake Resolve, Sirs. What will you do? Waver not, but Re∣solve: Its more then a thousand lives that lyeth on your Resolu∣tion: I come to you this day as the Minister of the great Pastor of the flock, that spake these words, not only to acquaint you, if you know not, or to remember you if you know, that One thing is needful; but also with authority to command you in his name, to Value it, to Love it, to Choose it, to seek it, and labour for it as the One thing needful. What say you, will you or will you not? This unspeakable mercy I offer you from the Lord: He is willing to put up at your hands, all that is past, and to lay all your sins on the score of Christ, and freely to forgive you through the vertue of his blood, if you will now at last bethink you better, and come to Christ, and live as men that know what they have to do: If you will but see your former folly, and heartily bewail it, and set your hearts on the One thing needful, he will encourage you, and help you, and bid you welcome, and number you with his sons, though you have lived as his enemies. Though you have lived like Swine and Serpents, he will put you into his bosom, if you will but be washed and changed by his grace. Though you have set more by your worldly riches then by his glory, and have set more by the favour of mortal man, then by his favour, and though you have set more by your bellies, and your brutish plea∣sures, and little toyes, then you have done by everlasting life, he will yet be merciful to you, and put up all these indignities at your hands, and take you into his dearest love, if you will but Now become new creatures, and give your hearts to him that made them, and seek that first that is worth the finding, and lose not

the rest of your lives and labour upon unprofitable things. What can you say against this offer? Is it not unconceivable and un∣speakable mercy? O what would the damned give for such an offer? O what would you your selves give another day for such an offer, if you now neglect it? What say you then, will you ac∣cept of this offer of mercy while it may be had, and close with Grace, while Grace would save you, or will you not? As ever you look for mercy in the hour of your distress, when nothing but mercy can stand your souls in any stead, take mercy now while it may be had: Refuse it not when it is offered you, as you would not be refused by it when Hell and Desparation would devour you. If you slight it because it is free, you slight it because it is great, and therefore greatly to be valued. Think not hereafter to have it at your beck, if you neglect it now when it seeks for your acceptance. Do not say, I will a little longer keep my sins, and a little longer enjoy my pleasures, for I can have Christs offer at any time before I die. O little dost thou know what a stab such a trifling purpose may give to the very heart of all thy hopes and happiness! and how terribly God may make thee know, how ill he taketh thy unthankfulness and contempt! and how dear one other week of sinful pleasure may cost thy soul? In the name of God I warn you, do not so despise everlasting happiness! Do not so trample on the blood of Christ, if you would be saved by it: Do not abuse the Spirit of Grace, if you would be sanctified by it: Play not any longer with the consuming fire, the wrath of a jealous and Almighty God: Jest not with damnation. Though Grace be now offered you, it will not be at your com∣mand: Despise this motion, and you may be out of hearing be∣fore the next. What can you expect, if you will slight such mercy, but either that Death should shortly bring you to your reckoning, or that God should leave you to your selves, and give you up to the hardness of your hearts: And if you will needs choose the world, and fleshly pleasure, and God and Glory shall be thus contemptuously past by, you may take your choice, and see what you will get by it: But remember what an offer you had this day, and that heaven was once within your reach, and that it might have been yours for ever if you would.

But because I am loth to leave you so, I will try by some such Arguments as the Reason of man must needs approve, Whether

yet you may not be brought to your selves, and yield to grace that you may be saved. And they shall be the Arguments that lie before you here in the Text.