Call of the Gospel

 Are there none here who are willful triflers with religion; who allow their hearts to gad after vanity, even in the sanctuary of God; who have been sitting just now, if awake, delivering themselves over, without reluctance, to some wild reverie of fancy? They do not know what hath been spoken, more than a person in China or Mexico. Are there none, to whom it never was matter of an hour's pain, that God is at a distance from them, and that they know him not? Are there none who will venture to forego all the sweetness of religion, for a pitiful morsel of the world's gain, or pleasure, or applause? Is there no person here who secretly thinks that religion has in it no real pleasure, at least for him; and who would be glad, with all his heart, could it be demonstrated to him that there is no God? I am afraid the world has in it more people of this kind than one would wish to suppose. If any of them are in this assembly, let them know that the God of heaven now wishes to talk a little with them, though by means of a mortal voice.

"What iniquity have ye found in me, that ye have gone after vanity, and are become vain? What wrong have I done you? For what cause do ye hate me, and flee from me? I have long been grieved with you, I have been angry with you every day; it repenteth me that I have made you. You have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God, you have provoked me to anger with your vanities. A fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. But I remember that you are but flesh, a wind that passeth away and cometh not again. Mine heart is turned within me; my bowels are troubled for you. As I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die? Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect in whom my soul delighteth. I have given him for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes. Hear ye him. Employ his saving power. Come now, and let us reason together. Turn ye, even to me, in him, with all your heart. He shall be made unto you, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

"But if ye will not hear it, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, I will even send a curse upon you; and I will curse your blessings; I will send leanness into your souls; I will blast and burn up your idols, before your eyes; I will say, it is a people of no understanding, therefore, I, who made you, will not have mercy upon you, and I, who formed you, will show you no favor. Yet a little while, and I will shake not the earth only, but also heaven. You shall see my despised Son coming in the clouds, and your hearts shall burst with grief; He will be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel. He will say to you, 'Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire'; and all my saints and angels shall say, Amen."

Thus, in the name of God, I have administered the external call to every unconverted sinner, now within the reach of my voice.

May God Almighty bless and glorify his word, for his great name's sake! Amen.