Thirdly, Then, in the next place, fly in all haste to Jesus Christ, thou being sensible of thy lost condition without Him, secretly persuading of thy soul that Jesus Christ standeth open-armed to receive thee, to wash away thy sins, to clothe thee with His righteousness, and is willing, yea, heartily willing, to present thee before the presence of the glory of God and among the innumerable company of angels with exceeding joy. This being thus, in the next place, do not satisfy thyself with these secret and first persuasions, which do or may encourage thee to come to Jesus Christ; but be restless till thou dost find by blessed experience the glorious glory of this the second covenant extended unto thee and sealed upon thy soul with the very Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that thou mayest not slight this, my counsel, I beseech thee, in the second place, consider these following things—
First, If thou dost get off thy convictions, and not the right way (which is by seeing thy sins washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ), it is a question whether ever God will knock at thy heart again or not; but instead say, such a one "is joined to idols, let him alone" (Hosea 4:17). Though he is in a natural state, "let him alone." Though he is in or under the curse of the law, "let him alone." Though he is in the very hand of the devil, "let him alone." Though he is a-going post-haste to Hell, "let him alone." Though his damnation will not only be for sins against the law but also for slighting the Gospel, "let him alone." My Spirit, My ministers, My Word, My grace, My mercy, My love, My pity, My ordinary providences, shall no more strive with him; "let him alone." O sad! O miserable! Who would slight convictions on their souls, which (if not slighted) tend so much for their good?
Secondly, If thou shalt not regard how thou do put off convictions but put them off without the precious blood of Christ being savingly applied to thy soul, thou art sure to have the misspending of that conviction to prove the hardening of thy heart against the next time thou art to hear the Word preached or read. This is commonly seen, that those souls that have not regarded those convictions that are at first set upon their spirits do widely, and that by the just judgments of God upon them, grow harder, more senseless, more seared and sottish in their spirits; for some, who formerly would quake and weep, and relent under the hearing of the Word, do now for the present sit so senseless, so seared, and hardened in their consciences, that indeed if they should have hell-fire thrown in their faces, as it sometimes cried up in their ears, they would scarcely be moved; and this comes upon them as a just judgment of God (2 Thess 2:11,12).
Thirdly, If thou do slight these, or those convictions that may be set upon thy heart by the reading of this discourse, or hearing of any other good man preach the Word of God sincerely, thou wilt have the stifling of these or those convictions to account and answer for at the day of judgment; not only thy sins, that are commonly committed by thee in thy calling and everyday discourse but thou shalt be called to a reckoning for slighting convictions, disregarding of convictions, which God used as a unique means to make poor sinners see their lost condition and the need of a Saviour. Now, I might add many more considerations besides these. To the end, thou mayest be willing to tend and listen to convictions, as,
First, Consider thou hast a precious soul, more worth than the whole world, which is commonly worked upon by convictions if ever it is saved.
Secondly, This soul will go to Hell if thou shalt be a slighter of convictions.
Thirdly, If that goes to Hell, thy body must go thither too and never return. "Now consider this, ye that" are apt to "forget God," and His convictions, "lest He tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver" (Psa 50:22).
But if thou shalt be such a one that shall, notwithstanding the reading of thy misery, and also of God's mercy, shall persist to go on in thy sins, know, in the first place, that here thou shalt be left, by the things that thou read, without excuse; and in the world to come to thy damnation will be exceedingly aggravated for thy not regarding of them, and turning from thy sins, which were not only reproved by them but also for rejecting of that Word of Grace that did instruct thee how and which way thou shouldst be saved from them. And so farewell; I shall leave thee and this discourse to God, who I know will pass a righteous judgment upon that and thee. I am yours, though not to serve your lusts and filthy minds, yet to reprove, instruct, and, according to that proportion of faith and knowledge which God hath given me, to declare unto you the way of life and salvation. Your judging, railings, surmising, and disdaining of me that I shall leave till the fiery judgment comes, in which the offender shall not go unpunished be he you or me; yet I shall pray for you, wish well to you, and do you what good I can. And that I might not write or speak in vain, Christian, pray for me to our God with much earnestness, fervency, and frequently, in all your knockings at our Father's door, because I do very much stand in need thereof; for my work is excellent, my heart is vile, the devil lieth at watch, the world would fain be saying, "Aha, aha, thus we would have it"; and of myself, keep myself I cannot; trust myself I dare not; if God does not help me, I am sure it will not be long before my heart deceives me, and the world would have their advantage of me, and so God be dishonored by me, and thou also ashamed to own me. O, therefore, be much in prayer for me, thy fellow! I trust in that glorious grace conveyed from Heaven to sinners, by which they are sanctified here in this world but shall be glorified in that which is to come, unto which the Lord of His mercy brings us all.
John Bunyan. _
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