And this, my brethren, is plainly revealed to us in the word of GOD, “The soul that does not repent and turn unto the LORD, shall die in its sins, and their blood shall be required at their own heads.” It is necessary, as we have sinned, we should repent; for a holy GOD could not, nor ever can, or will, admit any thing that is unholy into his presence: this is the beginning of grace in the soul; there must be a change in heart and life, before there can be a dwelling with a holy GOD. You cannot love sin and GOD too, you cannot love GOD and mammon; no unclean person can stand in the presence of GOD, it is contrary to the holiness of his nature; there is a contrariety between the holy nature of GOD, and the unholy nature of carnal and unregenerate men.
What communication can there be between a sinless GOD, and creatures full of sin, between a pure GOD and impure creatures? If you were to be admitted into heaven with your present tempers, in your impenitent condition, heaven itself would be a hell to you; the songs of angels would be as enthusiasm, and would be intolerable to you; therefore you must have these tempers changed, you must be holy, as GOD is: he must be your GOD here, and you must be his people, or you will never dwell together to all eternity. If you hate the ways of GOD, and cannot spend an hour in his service, how will you think to be easy, to all eternity, in singing praises to him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever.
And this is to be the employment, my brethren, of all those who are admitted into this glorious place, where neither sin nor sinner is admitted, where no scoffer ever can come, without repentance from his evil ways, a turning unto GOD, and a cleaving unto him: this must be done, before any can be admitted into the glorious mansions of GOD, which are prepared for all that love the LORD JESUS CHRIST in sincerity and truth: repent ye then of all your sins. O my dear brethren, it makes my blood run cold, in thinking that any of you should not be admitted into the glorious mansions above. O that it was in my power, I would place all of you, yea, you my scoffing brethren, and the greatest enemy I have on earth, at the right-hand of JESUS; but this I cannot do: however, I advise and exhort you, with all love and tenderness, to make JESUS your refuge; fly to him for relief; JESUS died to save such as you; he is full of compassion; and if you go to him, as poor, lost, undone sinners, JESUS will give you his spirit; you shall live and reign, and reign and live, you shall love and live, and live and love with this JESUS to all eternity.
I am, _Fourthly_, to exhort all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, to repent of all your sins, and turn unto the LORD.
And I shall speak to each of you; for you have either repented, or you have not, you are believers in CHRIST JESUS, or unbelievers.
And first, you who never have truly repented of your sins, and never have truly forsaken your lusts, be not offended if I speak plain to you; for it is love, love to your souls, that constrains me to speak: I shall lay before you your danger, and the misery to which you are exposed, while you remain impenitent in sin. And O that this may be a means of making you fly to CHRIST for pardon and forgiveness.
While thy sins are not repented of, thou art in danger of death, and if you should die, you would perish for ever. There is no hope of any who live and die in their sins, but that they will dwell with devils and damned spirits to all eternity. And how do we know we shall live much longer: we are not sure of seeing our own habitations this night in safety. What mean ye then being at ease and pleasure while your sins are not pardoned. As sure as ever the word of GOD is true, if you die in that condition, you are shut out of all hope and mercy for ever, and shall pass into easeless and endless misery.
What is all thy pleasures and diversions worth? They last but for a moment, they are of no worth, and but of short continuance. And sure it must be gross folly, eagerly to pursue those sinful lusts and pleasures, which war against the soul, which tend to harden the heart, and keep us from closing with the LORD JESUS; indeed, these are destructive of our peace here, and without repentance, will be of our peace hereafter.