The Necessity of Serious Consideration and Speedy Repentance, Part 2
PART II. THE SIN and DANGER Of Delaying REPENTANCE.
I Hope there hath been enough said in the former Part of this Discourse, to convince us of the necessity of Serious Consideration; and if Consideration be so very necessary, it is to this end, that we may live well here, and happily hereafter. It appears, by what hath been said, that none but serious, thinking, and considering Persons, can live well; and 'tis certain, that none, but they who live well, have any reason to hope, that they can die well, or that they can be happy after death. Therefore was it needful in the first place, we should be put in mind of this important Duty, which is so generally neglected, and the neglect whereof draws so great an Evil after it, as that of living only to dishonour God, and to destroy our selves eternally. But now 'tis also as evident from all that hath been said, that the deepest and most Serious Consideration, even of the best and most considerable things, is but a great deal of trouble to no purpose; and indeed a very idle thing, if it bring us not to a stedfast resolution, and a strenuous endeavour to behave our selves, throughout the whole course of this life, so as may best please God, and most conduce to our own Eternal Happiness. Resolving is the end of Considering, and Doing is the perfecting of Resolution. Without constant practice, 'tis neither considering nor purposing that will bring us to blessedness. To think much, merely for thinking's sake, is just to as much purpose, as to think of nothing at all; a man may possibly become more knowing by it, but he is not one jot the better. If then we will improve our Consideration to our advantage, we must take the same course, which, as we have seen before, David took; who no sooner had consider'd, but forthwith he turn'd his feet unto God's Testimonies; yea, he made haste, and delayed not to keep God's Commandments. This must be the fruit of our Consideration, if we consider to any purpose. As the Prodigal Son in the Parable, Luk. XV. no sooner came to himself, and consider'd things well; but straightway he resolved to return to his Father; and having resolved, away he went without delay▪ so are we to do, if we would be safe and happy; considering well, repent immediately of all our Sins, and without stop enter upon a new course of life. And this is the business of this Second Part, to shew the necessity of a speedy Repentance, and the absurdity of Delaying it. It is a work that requires all the haste that we can make, and admits of no delay at all. First, We cannot repent too soon. Secondly, We may defer Repentance till it be too late. These are the two things I shall now make very plain.