So also when the flesh moveth us to any backwardness in religious courses, let us have some Scripture ready, or Reasons deducted from ⟨p. 228⟩it. As, From the Dignity of our Profession, from §1the great Hopes we have to be glorious another day. And reason the matter,1 how doth this that I am moved to suite with my Hopes and expectation to come? how furthers it my journey homewards? §2And consider this likewise; That no excuse will serve the turn at the day of judgement,2 but such an one as ariseth from as invincible infirmity, or an unremovable impediment. such an excuse taken from an invincible infirmity, may then serve the turn. As, when we cannot possibly do a thing, from impediments that all the means in the world cannot remove. As a poor man cannot be liberal, &c. Excuses also fetched from impossible impediments, as from invincible weakness may avail, if a man have an infirm body, that he cannot do that which another man can: these excuses, with a gracious God will serve the turn; which are not so much excuses, as a just plea. But otherwise, our untoward excuses will not serve the turn. What hindered them in the Gospel who were invited to the Supper?3 Excuses from Oxen, Wives, &c. Was it not lawful to buy Oxen? and was it not lawful for the married to take content in a wife? another had married a wife; were not all these things lawful? very lawful; The Farm hurts not, if it hinder not, no• the Wife, Oxen nor any thing: but in this case when we regard these things more then the invitation to come to the feast of holy things, here is the malice of the devil, which brings that doleful message; They ⟨p. 229⟩shall never taste of my feast. There is such an infinite disproportion, between the good of Religion, Peace of Conscience, Joy in the Holy Ghost here, and Heaven and Happiness hereafter; and between any thing in this world, that to allege any hinderance whereby we cannot keep a good conscience, and preserve assurance of salvation, is most extreme folly & Atheism. I believe not a better life (the disproportion being so great between the state of this life and a better) if I fetch excuses from the things of this life, to keep me from Religion, the Fear of God, and working out my salvation with fear and trembling. These excuses will not serve the turn, not only with God at the day of judgement:
So also when the flesh mooveth us to any backwardnesse in religious courses, let us have some Scripture ready, or Reasons deducted from ⟨p. 228⟩it. As, From the Dignity of our Profession, from §1the great Hopes we have to be glorious another day. And reason the matter,1 how doth this that I am mooved to suite with my Hopes and expectation to come? how furthers it my journey homewards? §2And consider this likewise; That no excuse will serve the turne at the day of judgement,2 but such an one as ariseth from as invincible infirmity, or an unremoovable impediment. such an excuse taken from an invincible infirmity, may then serve the turne. As, when we cannot possibly doe a thing, from impediments that all the meanes in the world cannot remoove. As a poore man cannot be liberall, &c. Excuses also fetcht from impossible impediments, as from invincible weakenesse may availe, if a man have an infirme body, that he cannot doe that which another man can: these excuses, with a gratious God will serve the turne; which are not so much excuses, as a just plea. But otherwise, our untoward excuses will not serve the turne. What hindered them in the Gospell who were invited to the Supper?3 Excuses from Oxen, Wives, &c. Was it not lawfull to buy Oxen? and was it not lawfull for the married to take content in a wife? another had married a wife; were not all these things lawfull? very lawfull; The Farme hurts not, if it hinder not, no• the Wife, Oxen nor any thing: but in this case when we regard these things more then the invitation to come to the feast of holy things, heere is the malice of the divel, which brings that dolefull message; They ⟨p. 229⟩shal never taste of my feast. There is such an infinite disproportion, betweene the good of Religion, Peace of Conscience, Ioy in the Holy Ghost here, and Heaven and Happinesse hereafter; and betweene any thing in this world, that to alleadge any hinderance wherby we cannot keep a good conscience, and preserve assurance of salvation, is most extreame folly & Atheisme. I beleeve not a better life (the disproportiō being so great betweene the state of this life and a better) if I fetch excuses from the things of this life, to keepe me from Religion, the Feare of God, and working out my salvation with feare and trembling. These excuses will not serve the turne, not onely with God at the day of judgement:
- 1From the dignity of our Profession.
- 2Consider, what excuses may be sufficient at the day of judgement.
- 3Luke 14.
