time that they are to be taken up into heaven.

1. And to begin with God's ordinary dealing with sinners: when at
first he ministers conviction to them by his word, how strangely do
they behave themselves. They love not to have their consciences
touched; they like not to ponder upon what they have been, what they
are, or what is like to become of them hereafter: such thoughts they
count unmanly and hurtful. And now they are for any thing rather
than the word: an alehouse, a playhouse, sports, pleasures, sleep,
the world, and what not, so they may stave of the power of the word
of God.

2. If God now comes up closer to them, and begins to fasten
conviction upon the conscience, though such convictions be the first
step to faith and repentance, yea, to life eternal, yet what shifts
will they have to forget them and wear them off! Yea, although they
now begin to see that they must either turn or turn, yet ofttimes
they will study to waive a present conversion. They object, they are
too young to turn yet; seven years hence is time enough; when they
are old, or come upon a sick bed.

O what an enemy is man to his own salvation! I am persuaded that God
has visited some of you often with his word, and you have thrown
water, as fast as he hath by the word cast fire, upon your
conscience.

Christian, what had become of thee, if God had taken thy denial for
an answer, and said, "Then will I carry the word of salvation to
another, and he will hear it?"