Читать книгу Plain Parochial Sermons, preached in the Parish Church of Bolton-le-Moors онлайн

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Has not the like, the parallel of this dreadful case, been frequently discovered by ourselves? Have we not seen, or at least heard of persons, who have held out impenitently all their lives long against every means of grace and reclaim, by which they have been visited, and then at last, when suddenly overtaken by a sickness unto death, have distressfully desired that comfort and refuge, which they have never appeared to find? Their attention has been called, their eye directed to the ark of salvation, the gospel of the blessed Jesus; but having taken no interest in it before, having discarded and rejected it, they have seemed to behold it only in dismay and despair. Man, it is true, is not an adequate judge in such a case; he could not possibly decide, whether they were saved or not; but there was fear all around; their friends were denied the consolation of persuading themselves, that the door of mercy was opened; the sinner cried in agony, but there was no visible sign, that the cry was heard; no respite to the afflicted conscience; and no repose upon the countenance, that betokened the blessedness of peace.