2. Such as have made inquiry, and long earnestly to be resolved in this great Question, whether they be converted, changed, and shall be saved or no, and yet cannot find it out. I would speak a few things to the first of these, because the greatest part know not their condition, through their own carelessness and negligence, that through the slothfulness of their own hearts, on the difficulty of the work, or multiplicity of worldly care and business, are yet in the dark. That examine their shop book oftener, & more diligently than they do the book of their own hearts; that make oftener enquiry whether they grow rich, than whether they wax good. If I may judge of other mens hearts by mine own, in this point, and not be thought to have too hard, and uncharitable thoughts of them, I would conclude we are all guilty of negligence in this case, and therefore walk in the dark, and remain in uncertainties about the salvation of our immortal Souls, which should be the first thing we should make sure of, because it is of the greatest and everlasting concernment. Ah Christian! chide thy own slothful, lazy, negligent heart; shame thy self out of this ⟨p. 314⟩carelessness; what, canst thou eat, and drink, and sleep, and trade as quietly as if thou wert past all danger? And yet thou dost not know whether thou shalt be damned, or saved. Awake oh my soul! rouse up thy self, and look after thine eternal state; it is no matter whether thou art rich or poor, honourable or contemptible, the great question, that with the greatest seriousness is to be resolved, is whether thou hast grace or no, whether Christ be thine or no; certainly careless persons should be stirred up to look after their eternal state, and those that are diligent need some considerations to make them more diligent, and therefore the Apostle Peter writeth to those that had obtained like precious faith with himself, calling upon them, urging and exhorting them to make their calling and election sure. 2 Pet. 1.10. For this end let me propound these following Questions to thee that art negligent in this great concernment, and as thou readest: give thy self a sober serious answer.
2. Such as have made inquiry, and long earnestly to bee resolved in this great Question, whether they bee converted, changed, and shall bee saved or no, and yet cannot finde it out. I would speak a few things to the first of these, because the greatest part know not their condition, through their own carelesness and negligence, that through the slothfulness of their own hearts, on the difficulty of the work, or multiplicity of worldly care and business, are yet in the dark. That examine their shop book oftener, & more diligently than they do the book of their own hearts; that make oftner enquiry whether they grow rich, than whether they wax good. If I may judge of other mens hearts by mine own, in this point, and not bee thought to have too hard, and uncharitable thoughts of them, I would conclude we are all guilty of negligence in this case, and therefore walk in the dark, and remain in uncertainties about the salvation of our immortal Souls, which should bee the first thing wee should make sure of, because it is of the greatest and everlasting concernment. Ah Christian! chide thy own slothful, lazy, negligent heart; shame thy self out of this ⟨p. 314⟩carelesness; what, canst thou eat, and drink, and sleep, and trade as quietly as if thou wert past all danger? And yet thou dost not know whether thou shalt be damned, or saved. Awake oh my soul! rouse up thy self, and look after thine eternal state; it is no matter whether thou art rich or poor, honourable or contemptible, the great question, that with the greatest seriousness is to bee resolved, is whether thou hast grace or no, whether Christ bee thine or no; certainly careless persons should bee stirred up to looke after their eternal state, and those that are diligent need some considerations to make them more diligent, and therefore the Apostle Peter writeth to those that had obtained like precious faith with himself, calling upon them, urging and exhorting them to make their calling and election sure. 2 Pet. 1.10. For this end let mee propound these following Questions to thee that art negligent in this great concernment, and as thou readest: give thy self a sober serious answer.
