A Word to an Unhappy Woman 1. WHITHER are you going? to heaven or hell? Do you not know? Do you never think about it? Why do you not? Are you never to die? Nay, it is appointed for all men to die. And what comes after? Only heaven or heli. Will the not thinking of death, put it farther off? No; n t a day; not one hour. Or will your not thinking of hell, save you from it? O no; you know better. And you know that every moment you are nearer hell, whether you are thinking of it or no; that is, if you are not nearer heaven. You must be nearer one or the other. 2. I intreat you, think a little on that plain question, Are you going toward heaven or hell? To which of the two does this way lead? Is it possible you should be ignorant? Did you never hear, that neither adulterers nor fornicators shall inherit the kingdom ? that fornicators and adulterers. God will judge? And how dreadful will be their sentence, "Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!" 3. Surely you do not mock at the word of God! You are not yet sunk so low as this. Consider then that awful word, "Know ye not, that ye are the temples of God?" Was not you designed for the Spirit of God to dwell in ? Was not you devoted to God in baptism? But "if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy." O do not provoke him to it any longer ! Tremble before the great, the holy God! 4. Know you not, that your body is, or ought to be, the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you? Know you not, that "you are not your own? for you are bought with a price." And, O how great a price! "You are not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." O when will you glorify God, with your body and your spirit, which are God's 5. Ah, poor wretch! How far are you from this?

How far are you from this? How low are you fallen You yourself are ashamed of what you do. Are you not? Conscience, speak in the sight of God! Does not your own heart condemn you at this very hour? Do not you shudder at the condition you are in? Dare, for once, to lay your hand upon your breast, and ask, "What am I doing? And what must the end of these things be?" Destruction both of body and soul. 6. Destruction of body as well as of soul / Can it be otherwise? Are you not plunging into misery in this world, as well as in the world to come? What have you brought upon yourself already? what infamy? what contempt? How could you now appear among those relations and friends that were once so loved, and so loving to you? What pangs have you given them? How do some of them still weep for you in secret places? And will you not weep for yourself, when you see nothing before you but want, pain, diseases, death? O spare yourself! Have pity upon your body, if not your soul! Stop! before you rot above ground and perish ! 7. Do you ask, What shall I do? First, sin no more. First of all, secure this point. Now, this instant, now, escape for your life; stay not; look not behind you. Whatever you do, sin no more; starve, die, rather than sin. Be more careful for your soul than your body. Take care of that too; but of your poor soul first. 8. "But you have no friend; none at least that is able to help you." Indeed you have: One that is a present help in time of trouble. You have a friend that has all power in heaven and earth, even Jesus Christ the righteous. He loved sinners of old; and he does so still. He then suffered the publicans and harlots to come unto him. And one of them washed his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. I would to God you were in her place I Say, Amen Lift up your heart, and it shall be done. How soon will he say, "Woman, be of good cheer; thy sins, which are many, are forgiven thee. Go in peace. Sin no more.

Sin no more. Love much; for thou hast much forgiven." 9. Do you still ask, But what shall I do for bread; for food to eat, and raiment to put on? I answer, in the name of the Lord God, (and, mark well ! His promise shall not fail,) "Seek thou first the kingdom of God, and his righteous ness; and all these things shall be added unto thee." Settle it first in your heart, Whatever I have or have not, I will not have everlasting burnings. I will not sell my soul and body for bread; better even starve on earth than burn in hell. Then ask help of God. He is not slow to hear. He hath never failed them that seek him. He who feeds the young ravens that call upon him, will not let you perish for lack of sustenance. He will provide, in a way you thought not of, if you seek him with your whole heart. O let your heart be toward him; seek him from the heart Fear sin, more than want, more than death. And cry mightily to Him who bore your sins, till you have bread to eat that the world knoweth not of; till you have angels' food, even the love of God shed abroad in your heart; till you can say, "Now I know that my Redeemer liveth, that he hath loved me, and given himself for me; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God!"