Untimely repentance a sermon preach'd before the right honourable Lord Petre in his chappel at Ingatestone-hall on Passion Sunday, April the 1st, 1688 / by Richard Levison P. of the Society of Jesus.

A SERMON Preach'd before the Right Honourable Lord Petre , On Passion-Sunday April the 1st , 1688. St. John chap. 8. ver . 46. Quis ex vobis arguet me de peccato ? Who of you shall accuse me of sin ?

THE Stubborn and Ungrateful Jew , whom all the Favours and Miracles of Heaven could never endear unto his God , even after his prodigious deliverance from Egyptian Slavery , and drowning of his Enemies in the Red Sea , still murmurs against his Leaders , and still turns Idolater to his Maker . And does his Patient God forbear ? Does he extend his Mercies ? Strange Patience ! Sic Deus dilexit mundum ut filium suum unigenitum daret , St , Jo . cap . 3 , v. 16. unheard of Clemency ! He sends his only begotten Son into the World , to guide , instruct , and give the knowledge of Salvation to his People , thinking they would respect him , embrace his Doctrine , obey his Commands , follow his Counsels , and imitate his Vertues . Verebuntur Filium meum . They will reverence my Son . St. Matth . chap. 21. v. 37. In vain my God in vain . He derides his Innocency , he scoffs at his Sanctity , he scorns his Vertue , persecutes his Justice , condemns his Doctrine as erroneous , and obstinately declares he will not follow it . Recede à nobis , scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus . Depart from us , we will not the knowledge of thy ways , Job chap. 21. v. 14. Though each Paragraph of the Law stile him Holy , all the Prophets celebrate him as a Just Man , all the antient Figures represent him innocent , though the Angel proclaim him Saviour of the world , though the Eternal God name him the Beloved of his Heart , tho' the People reverence him as a Prophet , Hic est Jesus Propheta . This is Jesus the Prophet , St. Matth . chap. 21. v. 11. and declare he had done all things well , tho' the Devils adore him as Son of God , in fine , tho' convinced by all the Oracles of Scripture , and his own Broad Seal of Miracles , that he is the true Messias and Saviour of the World , yet he will not receive him . Nolumus hunc regnare super nos . We will not have this Man reign over us , St. Luke chap. 19. v. 15. So little impression can the Preaching , Example , and Miracles of an Incarnate Deity work upon his Stony Heart . But what ? shall his Stubborness conquer the Almighty , and Impiety banish Vertue in spight of Heaven ? No The God of Innocency , the Author of Sanctity , Divine Truth , and great Champion of Vertue , Christ Jesus , makes a solemn Challenge to day , in the face of Jerusalem , to his implacable Enemies the High Priests , Scribes , and Pharisees , in vindication of the Innocency of his Life , the Sanctity of his Manners , and Infallibility of his Heavenly Doctrine . Secure then of his own Innocency , and full of Godlike Majesty , he assaults them with a Quis ex vobis , &c. Who of you shall accuse me of sin ? He dares them to shew wherein he has offended . Tell me , have I sinned against my God or my Neighbour ? Have I not observed the great Commandements towards them both , Love thy God above all things , and thy neighbour as thy self ? Tell me in what have I transgressed ? Have I ever violated the least Iota , the least title of the Law Divine , or Human ? I have Preached in your Synagogues , I have spoke openly ; examin my Doctrine , if it be not coherent with the Law and Prophets , if it be not Divine , if it be not from God . I have taught daily in the Temple , in your hearing , shew me a word that I have not confirmed by the brightest evidence of irrefragable Miracles . Quis ex vobis ? Who of you shall accuse me of sin ? Can your Caesars ? Can your Herods ? Have I not punctually obey'd their Orders ? Have I not paid them Tribute with all exactness ? Have I not given strict command to all my Followers , next unto God to give Caesar his due ? Quis ex vobis ? &c. Who of you ? &c. Can your High Priests ? Have I not commanded Respect and Obedience to the Chair of Moses ? Can the Sinner or Publican ? Have I not been zealous for his Eternal Salvation ? Did I not daily invite him to Repentance , offer him Pardon , and promise him eternal Reward in the Kingdom of Heaven ? Ask Matthew the Publican , demand of Magdalen the Sinner , put the query to Simon and Zacheus . Quis ex vobis ? Can the Married ? I have honoured their state with my Presence , and confirmed it by Miracle . Can the Widdows ? I have supplied their wants by my Prophets , commanded them to be honoured by my Apostles , and my self have raised their dead to comfort them in Afflictions . Ask the Widdow Woman of Sarepta , go to the Gates of Naum , and you will hear and see the clearest demonstrations . Can the Virgin ? I have equalled her condition to the sublime degree of Angels . Can your Children ? They were the bosom darlings of my Heart , and I have entailed Heaven upon them for their Inheritance . Sinite parvulos venire ad me . Suffer the little Children to come unto me , St. Math . chap. 19. v. 14. Can the Hungry Multitude ? I fed them in the Desart by Prodigies . Can the Sick , Imprisoned , Lame , Leprous , Paralytick , or Possessed ? Have I not visited them , cured their Infirmities , cast out Devils ? What more ? Of my Deeds the Dumb speak , the Blind see them , the Deaf hear 'em , and the Dead can give you Intelligence of them . Quis ex vobis , &c. Who of you shall accuse me of sin ? In fine , he lays open the truth so clear before their eyes , that they could have no excuse for not embracing it . Si non venissem , & locutus eis fuissem , peccatum non haberent : nunc autem excusationem non habent . If I had not come , and spoken to them , they should not have sin , but now they have no excuse for their sin , St. John chap. 15. v. 22. And then demands . Si veritatem dico vobis , quare non creditis mihi ? If I say the truth why do you not believe me ? St. John chap. 8. v. 47. But what return ? The People indeed , ravished with the resplendent truth of his Heavenly Doctrine , applaud him with a Nunquam sic locutus est homo . Never did man speak as this Man , St. John chap. 7. v. 47. yet the proud and haughty Pharisee , having nothing but meer Negatives to oppose , impudently Blasphemes , Nos scimus quia hic homo peccator est . We know that this man is a sinner , St. John 9.24 . and consequently his Doctrine cannot be true , which filling the Jews with Envy , they take up Stones like unto their Hearts to throw at him . Tulerunt ergo lapides ut jacerent in eum . They took Stones therefore to cast at him , St. John chap. 8. v. 59 ; call a Council and Condemn the Innocent , Reus est mortis . He is guilty of death , St. Math . 26. chap. v. 66.

Ch. Aud . I will not wast my Time , nor your devout Attention , in accusing the stubborn Jew of Sin , for rejecting the Divine call of his Messias ; I leave it to that dreadful day , when he shall see him whom he Crucified coming in the Clouds with Majestie . There is a Christian Jew , I mean the obstinate Sinner , ( for so he is , and so I call him ) whom I accuse ,

First , of a horrible Sin , in slighting the Inspirations and Graces of Almighty God , that daily invite him to Repentance .

Secondly , I will demonstrate the evident danger he puts the Eternal Salvation of his Soul in , by deferring his Conversion to the last .

Dear Jesus , I beseech you by that burning Zeal with which you sought the Salvation of the Jews , enlighten my Understanding , inflame my Will , and influence my Words with such Force and Energy , that piercing into the hearts of my Auditory , I may awake them out of that dangerous and soul-killing Lethargy too too many sleep in ; by your bitter death and passion grant , that in the most terrible hour of death , on which depends the happiness or misery of Eternity , the Enemy of Souls may never insult over any one here , with a Praevalui adversus eum . I have got the Victory , Psal . 12. v. 5. I humbly beg it by the Intercession of your Virgin Mother , whom I salute with the Angel . Ave Maria , &c.

First Part .

IF I should accuse any here of Imprudence in their temporal Concernes , I were justly to be condemned of a rash Imputation : You are all wise . For who of you has not the end of his employment lively fixt before his Eyes ? Who provides not all necessary means ? Who delays in the speedy execution of them ? Who embraces not all opportunities of obtaining it ? Each step you take advances towards it . All your Study and Labours , your Care and Industry , your Thoughts in private , your Discourses in publick , your Conferences with Friends , your Vows in the day , your Wakings in the night , meet here as in their beloved Center . After this each motion of your Heart breaths , each aspiration of your Soul mounts to this as to its sphere of rest . This raises the Scholar to a Benefice , brings the Lawyer to the Bar , enriches the Merchant with Treasures , advances the Courtier to the favour of his Prince , and crowns the Souldier with Laurels . Hence I accuse my Christian Jew , my obstinate Sinner . Why not so much diligence in the main point , in the most important affair , in that unum necessarium the eternal welfare of thy Soul ? Why does not the great Maxime of Salvation , taught thee by the God of truth , Quid prodest , &c. What doth it profit a Man , if he gain the whole world and sustain the damage of his Soul , take up thy time but half as much , and dwell as near thy heart . Obstupescite Coeli super hoc & portae ejus desolamini vehementer . Jer . ch . 11. v. 1● Be astonied O heavens upon this , and O gates thereof be ye desolate exceedingly . He knows that at the same time he sins , he looses the friendship of God , his right to Heaven , and becomes a miserable Slave to Hell . And yet , because Heaven does not consume him with Fire , the Earth does not open and swallow him alive , because like a Baltazar , he is not summon'd from the midst of his Pleasures , to give a strict account at the severe Tribunal of Divine Justice , he boasts with the Wicked . Peccavi , & quid mihi accidit triste . I have sinned and what sorrowful thing hath befallen me , Eccl. chap. 5. v. 4. If you tell him with the Wise Man , that delays are dangerous , and sound in his Ear , Ne differas de die in diem , &c. Slack not to be converted to our Lord , and defer not from day to day . For his Wrath shall come suddenly , and in the time of Vengeance he will destroy thee , Ibid v. 8 , 9. Send him a Moses to know when he shall pray for him , and free him from the vexing Plagues of Sin , appoint me when I shall pray for thee , Exod . chap. 8. v. 9. And with the senseless Pharao he answers . To morrow . Let a Jesus inculcate a thousand Videte's , watch , pray , you know not when the time is , you know neither the day nor the hour , he answers , he is sensible enough of his condition , and would not for a thousand Worlds die in the state he lives in , and is resolved to repent when he comes to die ; for to be saved it is not so absolutely necessary to live a holy Life , as to dye a holy Death ; and so eludes all the remorses of his guilty and tortured Conscience , puts off all the Graces and Divine Inspirations of God , that daily invite him to Repentance , with the unhappy Felix to St. Paul , Quod nunc attinet , &c. For this time go thy way : but in time convenient I will send for thee , Acts chap. 24. v. 25. He will make use of them another time , he will hear them when he is more at leisure , when he grows old he will lay all other concerns aside , and attend wholly to the Salvation of his Soul . Is not this a Miracle sufficient to astonish Heaven and Earth ? That a Man of reason , a Man that pretends to Christianity , should have so little sense of his Eternal Happiness , as to live as they did who are now damned , to Feast , Drink , Sleep , and be Merry , as if he had not one Foot upon the very brink of Hell , but were on the Wings of a Seraphim , in his flight to the Glory of Paradise ; that he should have so little feeling of his only Soul , Unicam meam , as with the Epicure to think it to be only like Salt unto his Body , to keep it from stinking ? Pray tell me , what was the ruin of Pharao and the whole Kingdom of Egypt ? Was it not his stubborness to the Calls of Heaven ? Hear the most eloquent St. Ambrose . Appoint me when , says the God-like Moses , and senseless Pharao answers , To morrow : Cum deberet in tantâ positus necessitate rogare ut jam oraret nec differret , respondit crasiinâ die , otiosus & negligens morae poenam Egypt● soluturus excidio . whereas press'd by so great necessity he ought to desire him to pray now , and not defer it , he answers to morrow . But this delay cost the lazy and negligent Prince no less than the ruin and destruction of Egypt . What was the destruction of the famous Jerusalem ? Was it not because she was deaf to all the invitations of her God ? Neither the Promises of Isaiah , nor Prayers of Jeremiah , nor Threats of Joel , nor so many Exhortations , Graces and Miracles of the Son of God himself could awake her . Our Blessed Saviour expresses the cause in a Flood of compassionate Tears . Eò quòd non cognoveris tempus visitationis tuae . Because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation , St. Luke chap. 19. v. 44. Because she did not hearken when called , repent when invited .

For my part were I to write the cause of their Damnation upon the Forehead of the Damned , I would use no other Inscription then Eò quòd non cognoverint tempus , &c. Because they did not know the time of their visitation . All these suffer , and shall suffer in Hell for Eternity , because they mispent their time in this World , and did not make use of Divine Grace when offered . There is not one of these but intended to save his Soul , as much as you do . But alas ! They deferred their Conversion too long , then went to buy the Oyl of Mercy when she had shut the Gates against them . Eò quòd non cognoverint tempus , &c. Because they did not know the time of their Visitation . Do you not ? O Angel , that keepest the keys of Death and Hell , Claves mortis & Inferni , Apocal . chap. 1. v. 18. open I beseech you those dark Abysses where all unfortunate Souls must eternally dwell ; that with the Devout St. Bernard , we may descend in Contemplation to Hell whilst we live , never to come there when we are dead . Unhappy Dives ! Who stript thee of thy Silks and Purple ? What brought thee into this place of torments ? What torments thee in these Flames ? Oh! I often heard a Vae nobis divitibus , Woe to you rich men , St. Phil . ch . 3. v. 19 Luke chap. 6. v. 24. Quorum Deus venter est , quorum finis interitus ? Whose God is their belly , whose end is destruction . Yet I clad my self in the richest Silks and Purples , eat and drank of the most exquisite Meats and choicest Wines I could get , I made my Belly my God , and spent my Youth in Mirth and Riot , still intending to fast , cloath my self with Ashes and Sackloth , in my old age , and save my Soul at last . But O! That ducunt in bonies dies suos & in puncto ad inferna descendunt . They lead their days in Wealth , and in a moment go down to Hell , was my unfortunate Exit . I stopt my Ears when called by the merciful admonitions of my God , deferred my Pennance too long , and therefore hurried away by sudden death , am buried , am buried in Hell . I see the once scorned Beggar in the bosom of delights , I beg of Father Abraham , not Oceans , nor Streams , but that the ulcerous Lazarus may only dip the tip of his Finger in Water to cool the unquenchable thirst of my schorched Tongue , and can't obtain it . Alas ! All the comfort I receive is a reproachful Recordare fili , &c. Remember Son that thou didst receive good things in thy life time , &c. St. Luke ch. 16. v. 25. I omitted , when offered , to drink of those Waters of Grace , which extinguish an eternal thirst , and therefore , Crucior in hâc flammâ . I am tormented in this slame . O miserable young man ! What sad Chance cut off thy bloomy days in their prime , and brought thee hither ? It was a Non-correspondence to the Admonitions of his Friends , Suggestions of his good Angel , and Graces of Almighty God , which so often with an Adolescens tibi dico surge . Young man , I say to thee arise , St. Luke ch. 7. v. 14. call'd upon him to forsake that lewd Company , fly those occasions of Sin , and save himself with Lott from the flames of Sodom . But he heard them not , he thought some liberty might be given to Youth , intending when the heat and servour of that was over , to become a Joseph in the victories of Chastity , so goes on , spends his strength and estate too Prodigal-like , vivendo luxuriosè . But alas ! before he could return to the all-pardoning embraces of his Heavenly Father , a burning Feaver enkindled by the damnable Flames of Lust , posts him unexpectedly into another World of the same temper , Hell . Libidinosum enim hujus vitae incendium , ad fornacis intus incendium du●it . Isidor . Pelus . Ep●s . 533. For the lustful flames of this life lead us down to the burning fire of that Furnace . Poor unfortunate young Woman ! How came you into these Shades of horror ? She weeps ; shame and Confusion will not permit her to speak . She often heard from her heavenly Spouse a Vides hanc mulierem ? Do you see this Woman ? She followed Magdalen the Sinner , but neglected to imitate Magdalen the Penitent , till the time of Repentance was elapsed , and therefore she weeps , and shall weep eternally , but never hear a remittuntur tibi peccatu tua . Thy Sins are forgiven thee . Unbelieving Soul ! What shut thee out of Heaven , and condemned thee to an everlasting death ? Want of true Faith . I often heard a secret voice in my Soul tell me , that there was but one Lord , one Faith , and one Baptism , St. Paul to the Ephes . chap. 4. and consequently among so many Contradictory Religions , all could not be true ways to Salvation . I always thought that to be the true Church , which by clear Texts of Scriptures , Authority of general Councils , Sentences of Holy Fathers , and a never interrupted Succession of Supream Pastors , could prove its self to have the Marks of Christs true Church , as to be One , Holy , Catholick and Apostolick . I thought that infallibly must be the true Church of Christ , which notwithstanding all the Attempts and Persecutions of Schism , Heresie , and Hell , was yet visible , and could shew it had maintained its Doctrine in its Primitive Purity , and taught now the same that Christ and his Apostles taught . But whether I were a Member of this Church or no , I omitted ( through too much love of the World , and desire of Liberty ) to inquire , and therefore dying out of its Communion , out of which there is no Salvation , eternally perished .

Thus it will happen to all , who refuse to answer when God calls . Ergo dum lutem habetis , credite in lucem ut filii lucis sitis , St. Jo . ch . 12. v. 36. Hodie si vocem ejus audieritis nolite obdurare corda vestra . Therefore , Whilst you have the light , believe in the light , that you may be the children of light . The unbelieving Soul , if he will be saved , must bottom himself on true Faith . Ergo . Therefore if to day you hear his voice , do not harden your hearts . The obstinate Sinner if he will be saved , must answer when God calls . Did I say to day ? Oh let it be this very moment , before you depart from the Chappel , before you go home , and it will be the beginning of your eternal happiness ; and thus I conclude my first Point .

Second Part .

THE most deluding Fallacy on which the obdurate Sinner builds the delay of his Conversion , is a presumptive confidence in the Mercies of Almighty God , so much the more treacherous and deceitful , because it carries an outward shew of Vertue . St. Chrysostom on the second Epistle to the Corinthians , takes him to task , and thus discourses . Dicis , says he , Alii mali fuerunt , & salvi facti sunt , dabit & mihi spatium paenitentiae . Others were bad and are saved ; David was an Adulterer , Zacheus a Publican , Saul a Persecuter , and Magdalen a Sinner , and he will give me time to repent . So they speak who sin with confidence , and , as Tertullian said , are bad because God is good . The Saint replies and asks . An vere dabit spatium paenitentiae ? Fortasse , inquis , dabit . But will he really give you time to repent ? Perchance , say you , he will . The Saint urges very home . Dicis fortasse ? memento quod de anima loqueris . Do you say perchance ? Remember that you speak of your Soul . In a business of so great concern , then which no man has , or can have a greater , do you proceed with the uncertainty of a perchance ? When with so much Facility you may put your self almost in security of your Salvation ? You never admit of these doubts or uncertainties in the meanest affairs of the World . Nay , is your Friend condemned by some unfortunate accident to the fatal stroak of death , do you not use all possible care , all imaginable means , do you not imploy all your interest and Forces , to repeal the Sentence , to obtain his pardon ? Why then must only the business of your eternal Salvation be managed with the uncertainty of time , which is not in your power . Fortasse dabit . And how numerous are they to whom God has not given time to provide for the main concern , and yet these very men had continually in their Mouths . Fortasse dabit . Perchance he will give us time to repent ; they spent their days in Feasting , and lived pleasantly . It 's true , says St. Augustin , and I err if you do not find written in the Gospel , with the Golden Characters of Light and Truth , that God promises pardon to all Sinners that repent : But though you had a hundred thousand eyes , you will never find registred by the Pen of God , in any page of the sacred Volumes , that he has promised a Sinner time to repent . Nemo ergo sibi promittat quod Evangelium non promittit . Let no man therefore promise himself that which the Gospel does not promise . St. Augustin , De verbis Domine , Ser . 16.

But say what I will , my Christian Jew is become a Rabbi in the Synagogue of the Obstinate . He tells me with his confederates in Isaiah . Percussimus faedus cum morte & cum Inferno fecimus pactum , Isaiah 28.15 . He has made a truce with Death , and struck up a bargain with Hell . What ? That Death shall not seize upon you unprovided ? That it shall give you time by a perfect contrition and sorrow for your Sins to reconcile your self to Almighty God , to arm your self with the rites of the Church for that dangerous passage , that your death should be all mild , all pleasant , all melodious and joyful , that happy , as old Simeon , you shall close your Eyes with Jesus in your Arms , and depart in peace , singing a Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine , &c. Now thou dost dismiss , O Lord , thy Servant according to thy word in peace , because mine eyes have seen thy Salvation , St. Luke ch. 2 ? And we have made a bargain with Hell . That you shall be free from all temptations , that the Devils shall not molest you , that Hell shall not devour you ? But you have cheated your self , as all the Adversaries of Vertue and Truth always do , either ignorantly , or willfully taking a Sentence , and not minding the Context . Had you read on , you had found a Salve to that damnable errour in the same place . Et delebitur foedus vestrum cum morte , Isaiah the 5. ch . 14. v. &c. And your league with death shall be abolished , and your covenant with Hell shall not stand . But above all , methinks that terrible Ego vado quaeretis me & in peccato vestro moriemini , St. Joh . 8. ch . 21. v. I go , you shall seek me , and shall die in your sin ; Threatned by our Blessed Saviour to the Jews , should strike a terror into the most obdurate Sinners . There will be then a time for certain , when you shall seek God and not find him , when you shall call upon him and not be heard . The darkness of approaching death will hide him from your sight , and you that have not found him by the lights he gave you in your life , will certainly never find him in the shades of death . In a word , Hoc est Christum male querere in peccato suo mori , & in peccato suo morietur , qui in peccato suo permanet usque ad mortem . that Sinner seeks Christ , but finds him not , who repents too late , that is , lets Death surprize him in Sin , says Venerable Bede . Continue your favourable attention and I will prove it .

The lamentations of the Spouse in the Canticles , because she could not find her beloved are certain , the cause uncertain . Quaesivi in lectulo meo quem diligit anima mea , & non inveni , Cant . ch . 3. I have sought in my little bed whom my Soul loveth , and have not found him . To omit other the reason in my opinion , why she could not find him , may be , because she only sought him in the bed of Sickness , when the darkness of death grew thick upon her , because the Sun of Justice seldom or never enlightens those horrid shades with the rays of Mercy . That is , you that expect to find God merciful on your death-bed , will be deceived . In vain you expect the health of your Soul , among the mortal distempers of your Body . It is in vain to think to gain Eternity in a moment . It is in vain to cover your self with the Ashes of Pennance , when the Dust of your Sepulchre is near . In vain do your eyes pour out scalding Tears , when a cold sweat of Death runs down your Cheeks . Your sighs are illtim'd for Pennance , when you groan for life . What force can Pennance have in such a weakness of Members ? What fruits can she produce , planted in the Ashes of a Carcass . Vertues will not grow in a heart void of natural heat and strength . Wo then to the Soul that only seeks her Spouse on her Death-bed . And wo to thee , stubborn Sinner , that only beg'st mercy when thy gasping Soul hangs upon thy dying lips .

I do not intend to condemn the Pennance of many in their last Agony ; Potest nobis extremi temporis Indulgentia sub venire , at periculosissima est in ultimum diem promiss● securitas . Lib . de v. paen . perchance by labouring in the last hour of the day , they may deserve their penny and receive the reward of Glory . But I must tell you , that all the holy Fathers look upon it as infirm , presumptive and to be suspected . St. Aug. affirms it to be very unsure and of little value . We may be so fortunate as to find mercy at the last hour : but it is a most dangerous security we promise our selves in the last day . For it does not often happen that he that has lived a Fool all his life , becomes a Wife man at his death . And can there be a greater Fool than he who commits his eternal concerns to a dying life ? Not a feeble but strong Voice is requisite to plead a business of that Importance ; it demands a weeping Eye not a dying one ; exacts a grieving Soul , not a dead body . Because says St. Aug. Serm . 66. de temp . Parum est peccatori paenitere nisi paenitentiam peregerit . It little avails a sinner to repent , unless he perform his Pennance . Because as we esteem not the Tree , but the Fruit , nor is the Plant commendable that renders no Fruit to the Gardiner , so Almighty God values not a fruitless Sorrow or barren Repentance . Our Saviour and St. John exclaim , Facite fructus dignos paenitentiae . Yield fruits worthy of Pennance , St. Luke ch. 3. v. 9. But in such anguish of Soul , in such pain of body , in a head full of other concerns , in a distracted mind , in a heart not only barren of good deeds , but holy thoughts , what Fruits can Pennance produce ? And will you yet defer your Conversion ? Do you know it ? He that procrastinates in an affair of that Importance , contests with his everlasting ruin . Pennance is a traffick you may purchase a blessed Eternity with : But who is that slothful and unfortunate Servant that hid it under ground ? It is you that differ your Conversion , and think to do Pennance in the end of your Life . You will be numbred among the foolish Virgins t●at repented too late , &c. therefore Clausa est Janua ; nescio vos . The gate is shut ; I know you not .

But you think to deceive God , and rob him of Paradise , as the good Thief did on the Cross , reserving for your last breath , a Domine memento mei , &c. Lord remember me when you shall come into your Kingdom . As if this were the form of a Sacrament that operates independently of the Merits of the Minister , and in vertue of this , you were to do presently what you say , and Christ were suddenly to answer you with a Hodie mecum eris in Paradiso . This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise . The Divine St. Aug. condemns you of a pernicious errour . Ad emendanda crimina vox paenitentis sola non sufficit , nam ad satisfactionem ingentium peccatorum non verba tantum sed opera quaeruntur . Ser . 1. de paen . To the amendment of our Crimes the voice of the Penitent alone is not sufficient , f●r to the satisfaction of great sins , not words but works are required . What ? Are the inveterate sins of your obstinate Soul so many flames that can be blown out with a gentle sigh ? Are they Spots that can be washt away with a Tear ? Are they Wounds , are they Ulcers that can be cured with the Divine Inchantment of four Words . Domine , Domine aperi nobis . Lord open the gate . So that at your command Heaven Gates shall fly open , and your Soul be received in Triumph ? Ad satisfactionem , &c. And if you are not able to satisfy for your sins in that weak condition , how is it possible for you to overcome an army of Sins now in possession of your Soul ? How will you conquer those Legions of Devils that lye encamped round about to defend it ? Good God! Those sins that so many Preachers thundring the Judgments of the Almighty against thee , could not drive out ! Those sins that the Sword of Justice hanging every moment over thy head , could not dislodge ! Those sins that the fear of Hell fire could not vanquish , shall they now be conquered by a feeble Pennance , without Armes , without Forces , and as dead as thy dying Body ? What shall I say but exclaim with the Divine St. Augustin . Paenitentia quae a moriente tantum petitur , timeo ne & ipsa moriatur . That Pennance which a dying Man only begs to do , I am afraid it will die . I fear she will be defeated , I fear she will die ; and as the Body becomes a spoil to the Victories of Death , so she will fall a Victim of Sin , and a Prey to the Devils . Therefore if you intend to become victorious in the last and terrible battel , why do you not quicken your Pennance with the vigour of Youth , arm it with the Weapons of Mortification , and curbing your unbridled Passions , strengthen it with noble Resolutions , and the powerful assistance of Christian Vertues ? Assure your self a dying Age will never prove the fruitful Parent of a victorious Pennance . Poenitentia quae a moriente tantum petitur , &c.

You then , O holy Penitent , and most bright mirrour of Pennance , O holy Magdalen , teach my Auditory what time you observed to hear those most comfortable words , Remittuntur tibi peccata tua . Perchance you expected your lips should wither , before you fix'd those chast kisses on the Feet of Jesus . You waited perchance for death to break your Body , before you broke open your Box of Perfumes to annoint his Divine Feet . Nec ipsa se ad ●… oc reservavit , ●… t in fine vitae ●… aenitentiam a●… eret , sed dum ●… dhuc peccare ●… oterat sic Deo ●… nspirante volu●… t peccata dimittere , ut il●… am de Adulte●… iis suis , non ne●… essitas sub tra●… eret , sed vc●… ntas & ideo ●… udire mervit , ●… uod ei omnia ●… erint peccata ●… imissa . S. Aug. ●… er . 57. de Paen , You staid perchance for old age to rob you of those charming Locks , before you offered them to your dear Lord , to insnare him in your love . You demurred perchance till your sins left you , that you might run to God . Ut cognovit . Christian Auditory . Ut cognovit . As soon as ever she understood that her Heavenly Physitian was at hand , presently , without any delay , changing her sinful boldness into a fruitful confidence , she entred where he was , and prostrate at his Divine Feet , the Pillars of a non plus ultra , to her wicked life , pleaded her pardon with the silent groans of a contrite heart , and drown'd her sins in a Sea of Tears . Ut cognovit . As soon as ever she knew . Therefore , Quaerite Dominum dum inveniri potest . Seek the Lord whilst he may be found . Now , this day , this moment . When he calls you , when he offers you his Grace , when he expects your return . Do not defer till the night of Death surprise you . Venit nox quando nemo potest operari . The night comes when no man can labour . It will then be too late . You 'll seek your Saviour but not find him . Et in peccato , &c. And then you 'll die in your sin .

Another reason which renders thy repentance almost impossible , is thy custom of sinning , which once having got possession of thy Soul , is hardly rooted out . Because , says St. Aug. Consuetudo est quaedam habituata natura . Custom is a second nature . And Seneca answers thee , That when thy Vices are become thy Manners , there is no place for a remedy . Tunc desinit esse remedio locus , ubi quae fuerint vitia mores fiunt . You read a strange example of this in the third Book of Kings , 13 chap. King Jeroboam , by his frequent Idolatry , was become harder to the voice of God then the Stones he adored . The Prophet Semeia , by Divine order , goes to him , and finds him standing upon the Altar , but directs his Embassy to the Altar not to the King . Altar , Altar . St. Chrysostom astonish'd hereat , asks him . Cum lapide verba facis ? O Man of God , what do you do ? Do you think God has given the Marble ears to hear your voice ? Is your Tongue an Instrument of steel , that can imprint upon it the Character of your words ? Certainly upon this Altar you sacrifice your Words to the Winds . Why do you not speak to the King who willingly hears you ? Every one will judge you a mad Man , to treat Stones as Men , and Men as Stones . Do you think the King will not give you audience ? Much less will the Stones return you an answer . If the one will not hear what you say , do you believe the other will execute your Commands ? If Jeroboam has not ears to hear you , much less has the Marble capacity to understand you . But it was not so . For the Prophet found more hardness in the stubborn heart of the obstinate King , than in the senseless Stone ; and his voice which was not heard by the one was obey'd by the other , opening its Bowels , and delivering out the commanded Victim , in obedience to the same voice the stubborn King stopt his Ears to . Etiam quando rex minus compos est sensuum quam lapis , & audivit lapis , ipse lapis in scissuras diffractus est , & victimam effudit , homo ille non audivit . St. Chrys . In proem . in Isaiah . This we see daily , and lament . How many Preachers by Sermons , Exhortations , and pious Discourses , tell the obstinate and habitual Sinner , the danger he is in by delaying his Conversion . They propose to him the patience of his God , his frequent invitations to repentance , his threats , his promises , his rewards , his punishments , nothing moves him . Percussisti eos & non doluerunt , says Jeremiah of the obstinate . Thou hast stricken them and they have not grieved , chap. 5. In vain does Heaven punish here , in vain do you propose divine Benefits . Ipsi fuerunt rebelles lumini . They were rebellious to the Light , says Job of the same , ch . 54. A cursed habit of Sinning has rendred thy heart more hard than the very Stones .

The Divine St. Aug. has a gentile reflection upon three Dead , raised by our Blessed Saviour . The Prince of the Synagogues Daughter dies . The Heavenly Physitian only takes her by the hand , not so much to feel the motion of her Pulse , as to give it ; bids her rise , and she returns to Life . The Widdows Son of Naim , interpreted the City of Beauties , dies in the flower of his Youth , and Jesus meets the disconsolate Widdow at the City Gates , calls the young man with an Adolescens tibi dico surge , and in obedience to the command he stands up alive , and Jesus dries up the Tears of the afflicted Mother with the joyful sight of her raised Son . Lazarus dies and is buried , and Christ is troubled , sighs for grief , breaks out into Tears , groans , and with a loud cry calls him , Lazare , veni foras . Lazarus , come forth . And thus he rescues him from the Jaws of death , and brings him alive from the Sepulchre . But what sort of death is this , my dear Jesus , that will not give Lazarus the light of life , unless your all enlightening Eyes set in a Sea of grief ? That will not open the Grave and give up her dead , unless you open your Sacred Mouth to groans ? That will see you , Author of all Joy , full of all sadness , before she rejoice the Spectators with their raised Friend . Why was there not need of this in the others ? Whence this novelty ? St. Aug. answers the query . Because in the young Persons was expressed a Sin newly committed ; not so much , out of Malice as Frailty . But this signifies a habit of sinning . Cum consuetudinis malae quasi mole terrena premitur animus , quasi in S●pulchro jam putet . When the Soul is oppressed by a bad habit , as with a heap of Earth , it corrupts as it were in her Sepulcher . And therefore the voice of our Saviour was sufficient alone to raise the First . But here Fremuit in Spiritu , & rursus infremuit , & deinde magna voce exclamavit , Lazare veni foras . He groaned in Spirit , and groan'd again , and then he cry'd out with a great voice , Lazarus come forth . To demonstrate how difficult a thing it is for a Sinner to be Converted , and do Pennance at the hour of his Death . It is a strange observation of St. Jerome upon the Epistle of St. Paul , where mention is made of the general Judgment . At the first sound of the Angelical Trumpet , which must summon all Men to the vale of Josaphat , the dead will presently arise and present themselves . But to the living which remain on earth , the voice of the Archangel will not be enough , the voice and command of God must be added . What means this ? That it is easier to raise a dead man to life , than Convert an obstinate Sinner . This will sooner come from his Grave , than that will leave his wicked life . This will sooner awake from the sleep of death , than that will rise from the Lethargy of Sin . And God is sooner heard in Graves than in Towns and Cities .

But my obstinate Sinner still replies , that the mercies of God are above all his Works . That he will not the death of a Sinner , but rather that he be converted and live . That his Mercies have most of all triumphed in the hour of death . He has invited , even then , the worst of Sinners to pardon . Manasses after a wicked life , became a Penitent . He invited Judas with a kiss of Peace , and saved a Thief on the Cross . It 's very true , but here lies an errour that has Peopled Hell . Are you sure , or do you only hope that he will invite you ? Vix dici potest , says St. Aug. quantos haec inanis spei umbra deceperit . It can hardly be expressed how many this empty shadow of vain hope has deluded . Serm . 100. de temp . This it was that ruined Judas and made him dux eorum qui comprehenderunt Jsum . Captain of them that apprehended Jesus . And whence so great boldness , such hardness of heart in an Apostle , a worker of Miracles , who had lived three years in the School and Company of Christ ? St. Chrysostom found the Origin and discovered it for the Instruction and Correction of the like to him . Confidebat nimium in lenitate Magistri , quae res illum magis confudit , & omni venia privavit . He confided too much in the Meekness of his Master , which did more confound him , and deprive him of all pardon . The sweet behaviour of Christ to him , which ought to have made him love him more dearly , rendred him odious and despicable . He never saw him hurt any one , but do good to all , and therefore he betray'd him , because he did not fear him , but vainly confided in his Mercy . And tho' Manasses clos'd his wicked life with a penitent death ; yet his graceless Son Ammon following the vicious steps of his Father died as he lived . Nor must you urge tha example of the good Thief . For in the day the Son of God died to redeem man , some extraordinary priviledge might be granted . But turn from the right hand to the left , it is a short passage , and you will see , that tho' he was converted and saved , yet his Companion , and a thousand of the standers by , died as they lived . This then is an error the blind may see palmed on your self , not upon God . For he protests by the mouth of the Wiseman , Prov. 1. That he called , and you refused , you despised his Counsels , neglected his reprehensions , and therefore he will laugh in your destruction , and scorn when tribulation and distress shall come upon you . Then , says he , they shall invocate me , and I will not hear them . Oh dear Sinner ! What a terrible menace is this to a poor Soul , to be forsaken at the last , and cast off by Almighty God .

But he has Eyes and will not see , Ears and will not hear , Feet and will not walk . He has affectedly lulled his Conscience asleep with the drunkenness of his sins , the Trumpet of Death and Judgment cannot rouze him ; and he intends to awake at his death , and live to heaven , who living was dead to Grace . Would you know what becomes of him ? A Message is dispatch'd , for Mercy has given him over , and Justice will no longer indure him ; perchance the same that was brought to King Ezechias on his Sick-bed . Dispone domui tuae , quia morieris tu & non vives . Take order with thy house , for thou shalt die , and shalt not live , Isa . ch . 38. v. 1. A distemper seises him , he is carried to his Bed , his affrighted Friends run to his aid , with weeping Eyes they beg of him Now , for Now is the time , or Never , to think on his Soul , to repent and reconcile himself to God , they mind him with most earnest intreaties , of his so often repeated promises , I will , I will , when I come to dye . And what does this deluded Soul answer ? Thanks be to God he is not so ill as to think himself at that point , in that extremity as they Imagin , who wou'd have him die before his time , or modestly to hinder them from repeating what he would not hear , he gives his Friends many thanks in very obliging terms , and says he will do it speedily as soon as the dulness of his head clears up , the pain at his heart relents , which at present hinder him from performing any thing , with the seriousness a business of that importance requires . Jesus ! As he spoke he fell out of his Senses , he has lost his speech , his eyes are set in his head , he breaths no more , he is dead . A punishment justly due to the merits of his Crime , that he who living never raised his Eyes to Heaven to desire it , dying should not cast them down on hell to fear it , who living never thought on God , dying should forget himself . I am sorry I can't comfort his sad and afflicted Friends with a Requiescat in pace . The Lords peace be with him . The Antiphon that I wou'd have Sung before and after every Funeral Psalm , shou'd be that most true Sentence of St. Aug. It is the punishment of every sinner , that he forget himself when he comes to dye , who whilst he lived was forgetful of God .

Christian Auditory . You are all created to eternal happiness , all born to Immortal Glory , and consequently you have all Souls to save . But qui fecit te sine te , says St. Aug. non salvabit te sine te . He that made you without you , will not save you without you . Your concurrance with the grace and calls of Almighty God , is of necessity to Salvation . If you have been ever called and neglected it , how do you know you shall ever be called again . If you have not been yet called , perchance the first is the last . You have seen what sad and lamentable ends have attended the Delayers . I have shewn the stubborn Sinner how difficult a thing it is to do Pennance in the last hour , and laid down the reason too , of the sad Exit of one of thy Companions . And will nothing move thee ? Will nothing mollify thy strong heart ? Come along withme to the Throne of Mercy . If I can't convince thee , I le try at least if I can confound thee . Let 's go to Mount Calvary . With your leave Blessed Virgin , room Courteous Souldiers Devout Magdalen you have heard already an all-pardoning Remittuntur tibi , &c. Thy sins are forgiven thee . Cast up thy Eyes then , O Sinner , and look if thou canst for shame . It is thy God that thought himself miserable unless thou wert happy ; who after three and thirty years Preaching , Sweat , and Labour for thy sake , died that thou mayest live eternally . He is naked to cloath thee with the Robes of Immortality . He bows his Sacred head to give thee a kiss of Peace , he stretcheth forth his arms to embrace thee , he has his side pierced to open thee a passage to his heart to shew he loves thee ; he is crowned with Thorns to Crown thee with a Diadem of Immortal Glory . Those Wounds from Head to Foot are thy Sins . Ipse autem vulneratus est propter scelera nostra , Isa . 53.5 . He has made a Bath of his pretious blood to heal them . Those wounds are so many tokens of his bleeding love . Those wounds are so many eloquent mouths that cry to thy stony heart , repentance , repentance . But I have something more to say , for thy God does yet more . He has written thee with wounds in his hands , for he cannot forget thee , with these he pleads thy cause in Heaven to his eternal Father . I hear the holy Spirit with unspeakable groans cry out for Mercy . And does not this melt thee into Sorrow and Compassion ? Art thou not yet a Penitent ? I leave thee then to plead thy own cause at the most severe Tribunal of Divine Justice . But you , O Father of Mercies , by the bitter death and passion of your most blessed Son , grant that so sad and lamentable an end may never happen to any one here .

In nomine Patris , &c. Amen .

FINIS .