A serious Call to Obstinate Sinners Or A sounding Trumpet to the UNCONVERTED Laying forth the danger of living in Sin and delay of REPENTANCE Which may be a Warning-blow for Wicked Men to forsake sin and to turn to God unfeignedly I have no pleasure saith God in the Death of the wicked but that the wicked might turn from his evil ways and live Ezek. 11.33 Except you be converted you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Matt. 18.20 In the waies of Righteousness the Saints find Treasure so shall the Sinner by returning unto God Jer. 24.7 By William Knowls London Printed by H. B. for W. Thackeray at the Angel in Duck-Lane 1684. To the Reader Christian Reader I Intreat thee from the Lord that thou wouldest read this small Book and treasure it up in the Closet of thy heart to seal your Salvation to the day of redemption Beest thou never such a siâ—… now turn unto the Lord by Repentance and thâ—… mayst find mercy now obey his call while his mercy is open and run the race that is set before you throw by sin as a monstrous enemy and cast the Devil behind thee and the profits and pleasures of the World tread under your feet set Christ and his Glory before thine eyes and remember Death and Judgment have a strong Faith wrought in Christ Jesus in which way you 'l find treasures exceedingly and so shall the wicked bâ— turning to the Lord for there is great joy in heaven at a sinners returning more than at ninety nine righteous persons that need not repentance O you wicked sinners I beseech you make timely preparation for your sins O consider your own good and be wise my prayers are ever for you and my daily study is to find out medicines to cure you and among you I throw the Seed of the Word I travel in pain to the hazard of my life and all to save your Souls from Hell and that iniquity might not be your ruine So hoping in the Lord for some of your conversions â— rest your friend in the Lord Jesus W.K.B. in P. A serious Call to Obstinate Sinners Turn you turn you from your evil ways for why will you dye O house of Israel Ezek. 33.11 CHristian Friends and beloved whom the Lord would ever cover with the shadow of his wings and embrace in his Arms but you will not you love Death better than Life because your deeds are evil But hearken to the call of God and to the Doctrine of Christ our Lord you which are unconverted draw nigh now while I sound the Truâ—pet in Sion and sound you an Alarm in your Holy Mountains O you sinners you inhabitants of the Earth tremble at this sudden call from God for the day of the Lord is at hand Joel 2,1 And a most swift and sudden destruction attendeth the wicked for God will most certainly showre down his wrath and vengeance upon all such as forget God and will not be brought to the knowledge of his truth nay you will not discern the mystery of Christs Body which was crucified on the Cross and whose most dear and preâ—…s blood was spilt for redemption of Sinners O bewail your ignorance and beséech the Lord to give you the knowledge of his truth and instruct you sinners not to make any longer a â—est at his words and threatnings and 〈◊〉 not you can be saâ—… when you will â—… he not so deceived nor vâ—…ed by the Prince of darkness O it 〈◊〉 the Devils proâ—…se to deceive the very 〈◊〉 God chosen ones O you are called 〈…〉 â—pecial grace of God to inherit a Kingdom now therefore obey this special Call To day 〈◊〉 you wiâ—… hear his Voice hardon not your â—earts tomorrow is another day and who knows what â— day brings forth continue no longer in filthiness for the day of slaughter is nigh and a just reward is prepared for the wicked O we anâ— sinners who â— hearts are double-minded and whose will works deceit How many caâ—s have you had How many câ—ecks of Conscience how many godly Sermons Precepts upon Precepts Line upon Line one Grace upon the neeâ— of another and yet remains all this while as wicked as you did what shall be used moâ—e for your remedy doth not your Ministers baptize you into Christ and unto Christ and to make you a member of that mystical body and for all this you remain unsanctified they administer the outward Ordinance of the Supper of Christ to make you mindful of his death and passion to bind you to his will and to knit your hearts to his spiritual Ordinance yet all this availeth not let the Ministers of God say what they will yee you do not regard them you are now grown so wise you need no teaching you make light of Christ and Salvation the swearers and drunkards and 〈◊〉 and fornicatoâ—s and deceitful men do 〈◊〉 they shall be saved as well as others when there is no 〈◊〉 hope but Death and Dâ—mnation is reserved or the wicked He that lives and dyes in sin is a Hell-hound and a son of perdition T is the turning from the state of the â—hâ— wicked to the waues of God that shall guide 〈◊〉 to the glory of the Father of lights with who 〈…〉 is no 〈◊〉 nor shadow of turâ—…os 〈◊〉 man throw off the world â— the pleasures deâ—…ght 〈◊〉 it with the deceivable Lusts of the 〈…〉 and â—oâ—…ness be in your life 〈…〉 present condâ—… be unrebuke 〈…〉 God and man you cannot serve God and the 〈◊〉 yea you must lose all for the faâ—… of Christ and count the world but dâ—ss in comparâ—ioâ— to the wâ—… of Christ this all Sinners would do it thee did but know the Oracle of God and the mystery of his 〈◊〉 word and the reward they shall gâ—… in by Kingdom of Heaven you would not underâ—ue the worth of Christ you would not make light of 〈◊〉 O I beseech you to make a speed turn to 〈◊〉 Lord seek â—eâ—k for the Fountain that every 〈◊〉 and vaâ—… your Souls in tâ—… precious 〈◊〉 of Christ his only body feed oâ— and his 〈◊〉 drink of freâ—…y in not one 〈◊〉 fall to the Ground it is altogether excellent precious it cannot be got for Gold of Ophir aâ— Diamond can purchase it no Pearl can equaâ—… it Christ cannot be bought for Gold nor Sâ—…ver and the worth of Christ is beyond Rubies loe this is the Fountain and therefore pray Cleanse me O Lord and I shall be cleansed 't is he and he only that is the door and the way and opens for hungry and thirsty souls whâ— never tasted the sweetness of Christs body 〈◊〉 Blood but only the outward Ordinance which gives not life 't is the spiritual feeding and spiritual washing that makes the corrupted Souls of men perfect Oh let these things prick your hearts and cry What shall we do to be saved saith St. Peter and be baptized every one of you for remission of Sins No Repentance
of ligâ—… and create in your selves a new heart and 〈◊〉 new spirit For why will you dye O house 〈◊〉 Israel Romans 13 12. Ezek 18.31 Caâ—… thereâ—ore one another to turn for saith St. Paul Romans 3.12 You are all gone out of the way and altogether unprofitable whose Throat is an open Sepulchre who uses their tongues to deceit and your mouâ—hs full of cursing and bitterness with feet swift to shed blood Destruction calamities are in your ways who â—…ws not the way of peace nor no fear of God â—efore your eyes O cleanse your minds within 〈◊〉 and make preparation to entertain the Lord â—f life What Royal entertainment is made for â—orporal Princes you 'l make every Room clean 〈◊〉 his Royal entertainment but how much â—reater is the King of Kings who would feign 〈◊〉 you make preparation to entertain him and cleanse and purifie your hearts and minds for â—…cept you be cleansed you cannot receive the Holy Ghost and Christ must live in you except you be Reprobates but he lives with none that acteth wickedness Be you therefore holy 〈◊〉 Christ our Lord is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 And 〈◊〉 no more to the state of the wicked as a Dog returns to his Vomit or like a Hog to the wallowing in the mire for your conversation is an unexpressible joy to the Host of Heaven for there is more joy in one sinners returning than ninety nine iust persons that need no repentance Luk. 15.7 O but mark the Sentence to those that return not â—aith the Lord Luk. 13.27 Depart ye cursed you love the world and the pleasures of it more than God and his Kingdome but the World passes away and that therein is 1 John 2.17 Chuse rather misery with the righteous than joy with the wicked and pleasures of sin for a moment Heb. 11 2â— The rebuke of Christ is greater Riches thaâ— Treasures of the World Weep therefore 〈◊〉 worldlings and howl for your life of pleasure in wantonness have nourished your hearts to day of slaughter Gen. 5.5 For behold the is coming you shall burn as the stubble and proud and all that doth wickedly shall be 〈◊〉 up Mal. 4,1 For at the last day the 〈◊〉 will be revealed whom the Lord will 〈◊〉 with the brightness of his coming and all the deceiveableness of the wicked shall perish becaâ—… they will not receive the ove of the truth 〈◊〉 they might be saved 1 Thess 1.8 O what a dreâ—…ful thing it is to refuse salvation where it 〈◊〉 be had how worse than mad are the bewitâ— men of the World who might have Life Liberty if they would receive it but 〈◊〉 will not they choose death rather than 〈◊〉 because their déeds are evil I have spread 〈◊〉 my hands all the day long to a Rebellioâ—… people saith the Lord which walks not in thâ— ways that are good but in their own imagination a people that provokes me to anger exceedingly who blaspheme me to my face 〈◊〉 with fury and wrath will I recompence the iâ—niquity into their bosoms O that these Iudgments might but waken you out of sin and security and open your eyes to behold the danger 〈◊〉 walk in whom the God of this world blinds 〈◊〉 you cannot discern the light of the Gospel 〈◊〉 shine upon you 2 Cor. 4,4 From whence â—iâ—es contention but through your pleasures at fight in your members you crave yet not 〈◊〉 ye ask by Prayer and receive not beâ—…se you ask amiss that you might lay the same 〈◊〉 on your pleasures O the amity of the world 〈◊〉 enmity with God Whosoever therefore is a â—…end to the World is an enemy to God let â—…ur laughter be turned into mourning your 〈◊〉 into heaviness and cast down your selves to 〈◊〉 Lord and he will lift you up James 4.6 By 〈◊〉 time are some of you resolved to turn and 〈◊〉 up your selves to know God for except you â—…ent God will presently strike he hath wherâ—… Sword he hath bent his Bow and is ready to shoot he hath prepared deadly weapons 〈◊〉 hath ordained Arrows to persente you Psal 7,12 O make a speedy turn and be reconciled to God and let this day be thy day of conversion let this sound of Salvation enter into the Closer of thine heart and throw by all busie affairs to hear of Salvation in Sion and the sinners Repentance let go the world and the pleasures and profits of it and take hold of Christ and let nothing hinder you from hearing this blessed Call of the Lord. O that you would but give me a serious hearing and it cannot chuse but work in your hearts for I come not to draâ— you from obedience to God his worship 〈◊〉 run not into so many opinions for fear Gâ—… should cut you off like Luke-warm creature which if he should he would even spue you oâ— of his mouth pray â—ay and night I beseech 〈◊〉 that you may attain assurance of your salvation Gods promises are to the penitent in heart a humble and a broken heart God will not despise so you will but come to amendment of Life stir therefore and abide not a moment in the state of the wicked for the wicked are curse with curses and the Plagues of Hell attending them Tell them saith God three or four times of their sins but if they refuse your Admonition present them and there shall be to them no covering for sin but a fearful looking for Iudgment and in their earthly felicity these curses attend the Swearers the Lyers the drunkards the murtherers the stealers adulterers inchanters southsayers and all other wicked people you shall be cursed saith God Deut. 28.16 At some and abroad in your wealths and possessions and all that thou settest thy hand unto will perish the Lord will smite you with the pestilence and desperate diseases and your very Carcass shall be meat for Fowls you shall be struck with blindness that you shall grope at noon day as in the darksome night and thou 〈◊〉 not prosper in that thou takest in hand 〈◊〉 Calf shall be slain thy Goods shall be â—…sed and thy Children shall be given to other Nation and the Land wherein thou â—est shall be plagued wonderfully even with â—…t Plagues and the Land shall burn with â—rimstone like Sodom then shall all Nations 〈◊〉 Why hath God poured his wrath and â—rce indignation on this Land who shall anâ—…er Because they forsake the Law of the â—…d and walk in the indignation of their â—n hearts therefore will the Lord root out 〈◊〉 wicked out of the Land in his heavy displeasure O how the wicked live to the â—orld and not to God how they worship themselves but not the Lord O how full â— mirth and pleasures is their hearts as if â—…ey were purposely made for the World their hands and eyes they lift up but not â—heir hearts to the Lord You confess me saith God with your mouths but your â—earts are far from me O but in time lay â—…part all filthiness and put far from you all maliciousness and be doers of the word and not hearers only lest you enter into Condemnation James 1.22 Walk worthy of God â—hat the knowledge of Christ may be increased in you Col. 1.10 How would this Nation be blessed if the wicked would repent as did Niniveh who lay in the dust be wailing their traâ—gressions and they would be greatly blessed home abroad whose wealth will multiply 〈◊〉 whose enemies would fly like dust before the The Heavens shall give Rain in Season and the increase shall multiply upon the earth Deut. 28. God will exceedingly bless you if you will glorifie his name in your Lives and Godly Conversations O but alas you are such who profess you know God but in works you deny him anâ— are abominable and disobedient and unto ever good work are Reprobates Tit. 1.16 For whâ—… is reserved eternal destruction with Devils hâ—… the Righteous shall have all Tears wiped awâ—… from their eyes and called by the Lamb to sing Come ye blessed inherit a Kingdom to the wicked saith God Go you cursed inherit destruction And now I am coming to the end of my work my heart trembles to think how I shall leavâ— you lest the devil and the delights of the world should deceive you for he continually watches to make you his Bond-slave and to keep you in Hell to all Eternity O friends let timely repentance prevent this eminent danger And let Christ dwell in your hearts by Faith Eph. 2.17 O as I could desire that same of you Are you resolved to turn O that I could but win one Soul to Heaven this day and I wish that he that hears me not preach this Doctrine in my assembly may he ready to cover after my Books â—…t in Print do but read or hear them read you cannot chuse but profit by them let not that which is good seem too dear for you I have taken 〈◊〉 paines to pen it in the usual Volume that all â—ight come to the price of it but the worth that 〈◊〉 revealed it cannot be bought for Gold nor Silver for the price of Christ is above Rubies And now I have done my work what will beâ—…me of it I cannot tell I have thrown out the â—…eâ— at Gods command but I cannot give thee increase If you will obey the call of God you â—…y have mercy but I cannot entertain it for â—it I cannot shew you Heaven or Hell by Eyeâ—…ght but I herve shewed you the joy and sorrow â—t both and I beseech the Lord to work in you what hath been said Heb. 13.20 And make you perfect in all works working in you that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen FINIS