more worth than the whole â—orld and if Time be once lost there is no â—â—gaining of it O fall down upon your Knees â—nd bless God that you have yet the Light of â—â—e Gospel and that you have time left to seâ—ure your Souls and get an Interest in Jesus Christ First Consider how dreadful it will be to you when you come to die if you do not Reâ—ent and turn to the Lord while you are in health O how will you cry out when your Hour of Death approaches when you 〈◊〉 all the things of the Earth fail you and 〈◊〉 their leaves of you for ever All your outâ—â—â—â— Enjoyments Parts Parentage Birth â—â—â—ding Wealth Crowns Kingdoms 〈◊〉 Diamonds Houses Lands Wife Childâ—â—â— and Friends when once your Breath is gonâ—â— these are gone Prov 27.24 Hear now 〈◊〉 you that are given to pleasure that feast â—â—â—â—selves in doing evil you that put far from 〈◊〉 the Day of the Lord you that say It is 〈◊〉 enough to Repent when we come to die Fools How do you know whether God give you Repentance then or no Sirs I beseech you Repent while it is 〈◊〉 led to Day for you know not whether 〈◊〉 shall live till to morrow O consider with a trembling Heart 〈◊〉 much depends upon this Repenting and â—â—â—ing to God namely the gaining or loâ—ing 〈◊〉 dear and precious Soul gaining or losin◠〈◊〉 God's Favour the Fruition of God the 〈◊〉 of Heaven or the Torments or Sorrows of 〈◊〉 depend upon it Poor Souls I pity you 〈◊〉 my very Heart to see how ignorant you ar◠〈◊〉 so great Concernments you Eat and Dâ—â—â—â— Sleep Lye Sell and get Gain in the Woâ—â—â— but little do you mind to accumulate Heaveâ—â—â— Treasure to get your sinking Souls safe a-shâ—â—â—â— You consider not the evil day Woe be unto 〈◊〉 that is alone in Life and alone in Death 〈◊〉 has no Christ to befriend him or stand by hi◠〈◊〉 day that cometh to lie down in his Grave â—â—â—hout Peace or Pardon without hearty Conâ—â—â—â—ion without Repenting of his Sins And â—â—ll rise again and stand at the Bar of God's â—â—ice without an Advocat to plead for him 〈◊〉 And Lastly Try your Repentance by 〈◊〉 word of God see whether it be true Reâ—â—â—tance or no for the Devil hath many â—â—â—eats search your own Hearts to see wheâ—â—â—r those Sins you formerly loved be now â—â—ed and shunned by you Make ready for the other World think upâ—â— the other World think upon Death and â—â—â—gment Death that King of Terrors will 〈◊〉 long terminate your Days and then all 〈◊〉 Opportunities will be gone for ever Let 〈◊〉 ask you as in the presence of the Great â—â—ge of Quick and Dead at whose Tribunal 〈◊〉 must all shortly stand and giving an Acâ—â—â—nt of your Deeds be either received up inâ—â— Heaven or plunged into Hell I have some â—â—â—ries to ask you First Are not they in a very happy Conditiâ—â—â—hat Repenting turns to the Lord with 〈◊〉 whole Hearts living a Life of Grace and 〈◊〉 preparing for Death for fear of losing â—â—â—r own Souls being in a hazard of losing â—â—ven Rom. 8.7 Ps 37.37 â—â—condly Do you believe that Death will 〈◊〉 and that Sin that cursed thing will 〈◊〉 and that the Gase of all impenitent Sinâ—â—â—â— at the Hour of Death will be sad and terrible and desperate Let me say to all 〈◊〉 there is not a Night you ly down in your but you run a very great hazard if Death 〈◊〉 call and you not ready you must go thâ—â— you are ruin'd to all eternity though yâ—â— damned for ever Mat. 25.10 11 12 Thirdly Can you cheerfully entertainâ—â— thoughts of Death and Judgement all hard hearted Sinners that have not Repeâ—â— Suppose the dreadfull Judge should at thâ—â—stant send Death with the Names of Five Six of you in a Writ or Fore-head and 〈◊〉 should say You and you this Man and Woman must go along with me I haâ—ceived a Command from the great and teâ—â— God who hath the Power of Death Hell to bring you this Day or Night 〈◊〉 the Judgment Seat I have often warneâ—â— by sending my Deputies this Ten or Tâ—â—â— Years Every Grave and Coffin you seen was so many Imitations of my coâ—â—â— Now saith Death I am come see my this Dart must kill thy Body and send thâ—â— into Eternity I command you this momâ—â— bid adieu to this World Luk. 12.19 20. can you think of your dying and the Wâ—â— burning the Trumpets sounding the Corps raising and standing at the 〈◊〉 God's Justice and not fear and trembleâ—â— that have not Repented you Soâ—â— Daughters of Pleasure did you considerâ—â— horror and astonishment doggs you at the â—ich will inevitably come upon you as Traâ—â—l on a Woman with Child you would no 〈◊〉 unto God depart Fourthly And lastly Oh what a killing 〈◊〉 amazing sight will Christ's coming in the â—â—uds be to all that either deny his coming or â—â—d not prepare for it by speed Repentance â—â—s Incarnation was terrible Mat. 2 3. His â—â—ucifixion was more terrible Luk 13.44 45 〈◊〉 47 48. But his judging the World at the â—â—eat Day will be most terrible then shall the sibes of the Earth mourn Mat 24.30 And 〈◊〉 shall cry to the Rocks to fall on them 〈◊〉 6.15.16 When they shall see so many â—â—ousands and Millions of Men and Women â—â—gged down to that burning Lake of Fire and â—â—mstone there to be tormented for ever How â—â—l they then cry Oh that we had Repented â—â—y will howl for vexation of Spirit and in the â—â—erness of their Souls wish that they had neâ—â— heard of a Christ that they had been born â—â—ong Heathens or never had a Being or enâ—â—ed a Life of Pleasure upon Earth How 〈◊〉 the wretched Sinner beat his Breast pluck â—his Hair tear his Bowels crying when he is 〈◊〉 Hopes Oh that I had now no Soul or that 〈◊〉 immortal Soul were mortal that I might not â—â—ormented in these dreadful flames for ever â—â—ll Sinner you see what your Doom will be â—ou do not Repent but if you Repent unâ—â—nedly and be the Servants of the Lord 〈◊〉 Saints and Mourners in Sion lift up your Heads and Hearts for you belong to aâ—â— Place and a better Country viz Mounâ—â— and to the City of the Living God the â—â—venly Jerusalem and to the innumerable pany of Angels the General Assemblâ— Church of the First-born which are 〈◊〉 in Heaven and to God the Judge of 〈◊〉 to the Spirits of just Men made perfecâ— to Jesus the Mediator of the New Coâ—â— and to the Blood of Sprinkling that spâ—â— better things than that of Abel Heb. 〈◊〉 23 24. And know that you are almosâ— within the hearing of those heavenly 〈◊〉 Eternal Triumphs and Halleujahs of Saâ—â— glorious Angels in your Fathers House there shall be Fulness of Joy and Pâ—â— for evermore Ps 16.11 As the Sinnâ— be afflicted with Everlasting Forments Saints shall be crowned with perpettâ—â— dems of Joy Consider what I have spoken and 〈◊〉 give you understanding in all things 〈◊〉 you Nay but except ye Repent ye shall wise perish FINIS
A Word to all Christian Families In SCOTLAND Being an Earnest Exhortation to an Holy Life Recommended to be left in Families By D. Wilson Edinburgh Printed by James Watson in Craig's Closs on the North-side of the Cross 1700. A Word to all Christian Famiâ—â—â—â— In SCOTLAND Being an Earnest Exhortation to a Holy 〈◊〉 OR THE Only Deliverer from Eternal Death and Destruâ—â—â—â—â— Wherein is plainly laid down the great 〈◊〉 of speedy Repentance with the wretched 〈◊〉 of a Sinner and the blessed state of a Saiâ—â— Shewing how the one after Death wil◠〈◊〉 cast forever into the dreadful Flames of Hell-â—â—â—â— and the other will be received up into Heaâ—â—â— to celebrate Eternal Hallelujahs to the Lord 〈◊〉 Lords who sitting at the Right hand of his Fâ—ther will shortly come to Judge the World Likewise some Pithy Arguments to perswaâ—â— Men to close with Christ Being very useful for every poor Sinner tâ— practise and make use of in these sinful wicked and backsliding Times Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth drink of the VVaters of Life and he that hath no Money come buy and eat freely Matt. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the VVorld By D. Wilson Edinburgh Printed by James Watson in Craig's Closs on the North-side of the Cross 1700. A Word to all Christian Families BEING AN Earnest Exhortation to a Holy Life c. LUKE XIII 5. 〈◊〉 tell you nay but except ye Repent ye shall all likewise perish IN the first Verse of this Chapter you have the sad piece of this News that was told Jesus concerning the Galileans whose Blood Pilate had mingled with their Sacrifices â—â—r 2. you have our blessed Saviour's Answer to â—â—is News Saith he unto them Suppose ye that â—â—ese Galileans were Sinners above all the Galileans â—â—â—ause they suffer such things I tell you nay but â—â—â—â—pt ye Repent ye shall all likewise perish And yet â—â—â—â—her ver 4. Or those eighteen upon whom the 〈◊〉 Siloe fell and slew them think you that they 〈◊〉 sinners above all men that dwebt in Jerusalem 〈◊〉 you nay but except ye Repent ye shall all â—â—â—â—wise perish This former part of the Chapâ—â—â— contains the Sermon of Repentance that 〈◊〉 preached by our blessed Saviour â—epentance is a pure Gospel Grace it comes 〈…〉 Jesus Christ He hath purchased by his â—â—â—od that repenting Sinners shall be saved The Doctrine I shall raise from these Wordâ— That it is a great Duty incumbent upâ—â— Christians to Repent and turn to tâ—â— Lord Or it doth highly concern a Pâ—â—ple whom the Lord visiteth with â—â—â— Judgement to strive to turn to him 〈◊〉 Repentance and Faith in Jesus Chriâ—â— Repentance Conversion is the only way 〈◊〉 Salvation I need not stay to open the Text 〈◊〉 you and to prove it by Scripture For if thâ—â— beest a Man or Woman that do'st believe 〈…〉 Word of God then thou believest that wiâ—â—out Repentance none can be saved as the 〈◊〉 has it But I say unto you Except ye Repent ye 〈◊〉 all likewise perish Well then what sayest thâ—â— Sinner Dost thou believe or no Thou 〈◊〉 either confess that this is true or say plaiâ—â—â— that you will not believe the Word of God 〈◊〉 once you are come to that pass there is but 〈◊〉 hopes of you Look to your selves as well as 〈◊〉 can for 't is like you will not be long out of 〈◊〉 You would be ready to fly in the face of him 〈◊〉 give you the lye And dare you give the lye 〈◊〉 God If you will not believe the words of 〈◊〉 blessed Saviour whose will you And doth no◠〈◊〉 say That except ye Repent ye shall perish He dâ—â— not say you may perish but you shall nay thâ—â—â— is no doubt of it Let God be True every Mâ—â— a Lyar Christ hath spoken it Luke 10.12 I 〈◊〉 unto you It shall be more tolerable for Sodom at 〈◊〉 day of Judgement than it shall be for that Peopl◠〈◊〉 Nation that believe not these Words of our Saviâ—â—â— Use 1. Is this a Truth That Repentance is the â—nly way to prevent the Judgments of God that â—ang over our heads because of our Sin Then â—â—rst of all I would entreat you observe the curâ—ed nature of this cursed thing called Sin you â—ee Sin must be repented of or we shall all perish â—â—r we shall be damned Sin will utterly destroy â—oth our Bodies and Souls I think it is one of â—he hardest things that is to understand the â—eadly Poyson that is in Sin Sin is that which â—â—e Lord hates The Soul that Sins shall surely die â—his was the old Law But the Gospel of Christ â—â—ith Repent and forsake your Sins Or Repent and â—â—lieve and you shall be saved Use 2 Is Repentance the way and means to â—â—event a People or Nation from perishing â—hen from hence you may learn the Excellency 〈◊〉 the Usefulness of that Grace of Repentance â—h What an Omnipotent Grace is this It is a â—race that can do any thing with God This â—race of Repentance can redeem our mortgag'd â—â—essings it can make us a happy People Jerâ—â—â— 18 19 20 I have surely heard Ephraim beâ—â—aning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and 〈◊〉 â—as chastised as a Bullock unaccustomed to the â—â—ke Turn thou me and I shall be turned for â—â—â—u art my Lord my God Surely after I was turâ—â—d I repented and after I was instructed I smote â—â—on my Thigh I was ashamed yea even confoundâ—â— because I did bear the reproach of my Yonth 〈◊〉 Ephraim my dear Son Is he a pleasant Child 〈◊〉 since I speak against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my Bowels are turned for hâ—â— I will surely have Mercy upon him saith 〈◊〉 Lord. From hence you may observe That â—â—penting Sinners are exceeding precious in 〈◊〉 sight of the Lord his Heart is turned towaâ—â—â— them Oh! what an excellent Priviledge haâ—◠〈◊〉 penitent Heart with God! My Beloved hâ—â— can you live without such a Grace Your 〈◊〉 want it your Families want it and the â—â—â—â—tion stands in need of it The greatest wâ—â—â— this day in Scotland is a broken Heart Use 3. Is Repentance the only way to prevâ—â—â—â— Judgements Then from hence gather Tâ—â—â— when God either hath his Plagues upon a Pâ—â—ple or continues threatning his Judgmentâ—â—â—ward them it is a sign that those People 〈◊〉 very guilty of Impenitency If God threaâ—â—â—â— thee O Scotland to give thee up to hardne◠〈◊〉 Heart and blindness of Mind Doth Go◠〈◊〉 it at this Day They say O Scotland 〈…〉 an impenitent People at this day O Scotâ—â—â—â— this is my Charge against thee You have 〈◊〉 stiff-necked People O Edinburgh 〈◊〉 long shall the Lord wait upon thee before 〈◊〉 will repent What can you expect but that 〈◊〉 will yet visit Scotland with his Judgment 〈◊〉 be humbled and heartily repent us of our 〈◊〉 'T is for Sin that the Nation mourns 〈◊〉 Swearing
Whoring and Sabbath-breaâ—â—â—â— Schism and Disobedience to Magistrates 〈◊〉 Day in Edinburgh O you sinfull Generatâ—â—â— this your requiting of God for all his â—â—â—cies Deut. 32.6 Do ye thus requite the Lord O ye foolish and unwise What say ye Will you Repent or not This is my Question which I have to ask you this Day Will you Repent Do not flatter your selves about Matters of so â—reat concernment as your immortal Souls Conâ—ider this O Sinners if you will repent then â—ou may live happy in the Land of your Nativiâ—y and go to your Death Beds in Peace But if â—ou will not repent of your Sins then I say â—ou must instead of Blessings expect nothing â—ut Curses It is plain that God is angry with you for God would never have sent so many Judgements â—fter one another Once more Will you reâ—ent or will you not If you will not your Sins â—e at your own Doors Do not think it is a hard Question when I ask you to repent but conâ—â—der there are two places where there is no reâ—enting the one is in the Grave the other in â—ell It were a vain thing for me to go to the â—ates of Hell and cry to them Repent for â—he Day of Grace is past and their Doom is â—assed upon them I do verily think that there 〈◊〉 more sorrowing in Hell for Sin than there is â—â—is Day in Scotland but their Sorrow is not a â—â—nctified sorrow If the damned in Hell were â—elivered out of Hell they would sin again if â—â—ey lived eternally they would sin eternally â—ut I am not a speaking to Men in Hell but to â—ou Sinners in Scotland 1. I say unto you Repent Because Jesâ—â— Christ hath commanded you under great Penaâ—â—ties if you do not Consider a little O Sinner who 't is that calls for Repentance It is not but the great God it is Jesus Christ and doubâ—â— less Christ would never have pressed you to thâ— Work if it were not necessary He saith unâ—â— you Repent and saith again If you do noâ— your Sins shall not be blotted out Woe be unto thâ—â— Man or Woman that repenteth not better were that he had never been born that he haâ— never seen the Light The Parents that baâ—â— thee they may Repent that ever thou wert boâ—â— It would grieve your Parents to see you caâ—â—ried to the Gallows to be hanged And will not much more grieve them to see you caâ—â— Body and Soul into everlasting Burnings theâ— to be tormented with the Devil and his Angâ—â— for ever 2. Repent for Christ hath encouraged yâ—â— with many precious Promises He will heal 〈◊〉 your back-slidings and love you freely thouâ— your Sins be as Mountains he will make thâ—â— as Mole Hills though as red as Scarlet he 〈◊〉 make them as white as Milk But some will object and say This is a hâ—â— work What! shall we always go with Tears our Eyes What will God give us for our 〈◊〉 ward Ah poor Sinner fear not do not questâ—â— your Reward For as sure as God is true so 〈◊〉 thou shalt have Christ Heaven and Glory 〈◊〉 â—appy for ever Sinners methinks it should â—â—e you to quake to think how God will deal 〈◊〉 you at the great and dreadful day of Judgâ—â—t when he shall say ' Take him Devils â—â—d him hand and foot and fling him into â—â—erlasting burnings where shall be weeping â—â—d wailing and gnashing of Teeth Oh it is a â—â—dful Sentence to be adjudged to Everlasting 〈◊〉 and look for it Sinner if thou wilt not reâ—â—t these are the Words that thou shalt hear â—â—ist pronounce against thee Depart from me I 〈◊〉 you not And thou may'st be sure O Sinner â—ou art not with Christ thou must be with the â—â—il thou must be either in Heaven or Hell 〈◊〉 Repent because the Lord hath long waitâ—pon you How long hath God stood at the â—â—â—rs of your Hearts wooing and beseeching 〈◊〉 to Repent How long O thou proud Man Woman hath God called unto thee How â—â—n hath he knocked at your hard Hearts 〈◊〉 you would not let him in Oh thou greyâ—â—ded Sinner God hath long waited on thee â—â—ay be ever since thou was Fifteen or Sixteen â—â—rs of Age to see if thou wouldest repenr 〈◊〉 2.4 Or despisest thou the Richess of his â—â—odness and Forbearance and Long-sufferâ—â—â— not knowing that the Goodness of God â—deth thee to Repentance There is not a â—â—ssing that thou hast from God but it hath 〈◊〉 writ upon it Repent of thy Sins Wilt thou â—â—â—k of this when God puts the Bread into 〈◊〉 Hands he saith unto thee Sinner Take this Bread Eat and Repent And when God the Cup of Beer into thy Hands he saith â—â—thee Sinner take this Cup of Beer and â—â—pent When thou risest in the Morning saith unto thee Sinner take this Suitâ—â— Cloaths put it on and Repent Every Mâ—â—â— that thou receivest from God calls to thee Repentance 4. If you will Repent and leave your Sâ—â—â— God will not be angry with you My beloâ—â— you have heard the Parable of the Prodiâ—â— Son who when he had spent all he returâ— home to his Father's House So my Beloâ—â— God is your Father but you are Prodigals the Sin you have committed against him is â—â—â—digality But let me tell you if you are â—â—â—ling to come to God's Feet he will take about the Neck If you are willing to forâ—â—â— your sins God is willing and ready to paâ—â— your Sins though you have been a wicked bellious and sinful People yet if you will 〈◊〉 to the Lord he will turn to you 5. Repent because the Lord sendeth Messenger unto you for to intreat you to â—â—pent Woe be unto you therefore if â—â—neglect this great Salvation You know thâ—â— was one main Reason why God took away Prophets and Ministers from Jerusalem becâ—â—â— they would not hearken to their Messengâ—â— as you may read Mat 23 37 38 39. O â—â—rusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the 〈◊〉 phets stonest them that were sent unto 〈◊〉 How often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not Behold your Houses are left unto you â—esolat For I say unto you ye shall not â—â—ee me henceforth till ye shall say Blessed â—â—â—s he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. â—â—ay very well apply this to Edinburgh Oh! â—â—w often would the Lord have gathered you â—â—â—en as a Hen gathereth her Chickens but 〈◊〉 would not What say you now Scotland 〈◊〉 Edinburgh will you Repent Or will you not â—â—ill not all this that hath been said prevail â—â—th you Alas I am heartily sorry to see â—â—at nothing will prevail with you but the â—â—ames of Hell Oh then you would say Oh! we had but hearkened unto the voice of God's â—â—essengers that were sent unto us to call us 〈◊〉 Repentance 6. O Scotland Repent to day and turn to â—â—â—e Lord O delay not an Hour longer time â—â—â—a precious Jewel