First, That this day, or time thus limited, when it is considered
with reference to this or that man, is ofttimes undiscerned by the
person concerned therein, and always is kept secret as to the
shutting up thereof.

And this, in the wisdom of God, is thus to the end; no man, when
called upon, should put off turning to God to another time. Now, and
to-day, is that and only that which is revealed in holy writ; Psal.
1. 22; Eccles. xii. 1; Heb. iii. 13, 16.

And this shews us the desperate hazards which those men run, who when
invitation or conviction attends them, put off turning to God to be
saved till another, and, as they think, a more fit season and time.
For many, by so doing, defer this to do till the day of God's
patience and long-suffering is ended; and then, for their prayers and
cries after mercy, they receive nothing but mocks, and are laughed at
by the God of heaven; Prov. i. 20-30; Isaiah lxv. 12-16; chap. lxvi.
4; Zech. xii. 11-13.

Secondly, Another thing to be considered is this, viz. that the day
of God's grace with some men begins sooner, and also sooner ends than
it doth with others. Those at the first hour of the day, had their
call sooner than they who were called upon to turn to God at the
sixth hour of the day; yea, and they who were hired at the third
hour, had their call sooner than they who were called at the
eleventh; Matt. xx. 1-6.

1. The day of God's patience began with Ishmael, and also ended
before he was twenty years old. At thirteen years of age he was