Vol 16 - TO CARDONESS, YOUNGER.

TO CARDONESS, YOUNGER.
MUCH HONORED SIR,
I LONG to hear whether or not your soul be engaged with CHRIST. Lose time no longer; flee the follies of youth; gird up the loins of your mind; and make you ready for meeting the LORD. I have often summoned you, and now I summon you again, to compear before your Judge, to make a reckoning of your life; while ye have time, look upon your papers, and consider your ways. O that there were such a heart in you, as to think what an ill con-science will be to you when ye are upon the border of eternity, and your one foot out of time! O then, ten thousand floods of tears cannot extinguish these flames, or purchase to you one hour's release from that pain! O how sweet a day have ye had! But this is a fair-day that runneth fast away; see how ye have spent it, and consider the necessity of salvation, and tell me (in the fear of GOD) if ye have made it sure.’ I am persuaded, ye have a con-science that will be speaking somewhat to you: why will ye die and destroy yourself I charge you, in CHRIST'S name, to rouse up your conscience, and begin to contract with CHRIST in time, while salvation is in your offer " This is the accepted time, this is the day of salvation." Play the merchant, for ye cannot expect another market-day when this is done; therefore let me again beseech you to consider, " in this your day, the things that belong to your peace." Fulfill my joy, and begin to seek the LORD while he may be found: forsake the follies of deceiving youth; and lay hold upon eternal life. Whoring, drinking, mispending the Sabbath, neglecting of prayer in your house and refusing an offered salvation, will burn up your soul with the terrors of the ALMIGHTY, when your awakened conscience shall flee in your face. Sir, I have not a tongue to express the glory that is laid up for you in your Father's house, if ye frame your heart to return to the LORD. Ye know, this world is but a shadow, a short-living creature, under the law of time; within less than fifty years, when ye look back to it, ye shall laugh at the vanishing vanities thereof, as feathers flying in the air, and as the houses of sand within the sea-mark, which the children of men are building. Give up courting this vain world: seek not the bastard's moveables, but the son's heritage in heaven. Take trial of CHRIST, look unto him, and his love shall so change you, that ye shall never choose to go from him. I have experience of his sweetness in this house of my pilgrimage here my witness, who is above, knows that I would not exchange my sighs and tears with the laughter of the fourteen Prelates. There is nothing which will make you a Christian indeed, but a taste of the sweetness of CHRIST; —" Come and see," will speak best to your soul. I would fain hope good of you. Be not discouraged at broken resolutions; but to it, and to it again: woo CHRIST, till ye get your soul espoused as a chaste virgin to him; use the means of profiting, pray in your family, and read the word remember how our LORD's day was spent when 1: was among you. It will be a great challenge to you before GOD, if you forget the good that was done within the walls of your house on the LORD's day, and if you turn aside after the fashions of this world, and if you go not to the public worship of GOD. Give Con some of your time, both in the morning, evening, and afternoon; and in so doing, rejoice the heart of a poor prisoner.
Now He that brought again from the dead the Shepherd of his sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, establish your heart with his grace, and present you before his presence with joy.
Your affectionate and loving Pastor,
Aberdeen, 1637. S. R.