The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

Consider 1. Who it is that I plead for this day: Sirs I do not call you to dote upon thick clay, filth, and vanity: I do not plead to gain your hearts to one that is not worthy, or hath not deserved that you should place your affections upon him; if you can make either of these manifest, hate him and spare not; but I plead for one who is 1. glorious, and excellent, if you doubt it read his Character, Cant. 5.9. What sayest thou now, is he not Altogether lovely? is there any blemish to be found in him? and if thou mistrustest the Judgement of the Church, sure thou canst not doubt of Gods; Hear his sentence, Matth. 3.17. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. He knew of whom he spake, for he was his Son; and he doth not say, he was pleased with him only, but well-pleased, i. e. delighted, (See Prov. 8.30.) and satisfied. And was he worthy of Gods love, and doest thou doubt, whether he have deserved thine? 2. Consider, he is one that died for thee; first to purchase thy love, and since is gone to Heaven, where yet he doth not Cease to call upon thee, and Invite thee to bestow thy heart upon him; were he excellent, but proud, it would be little to thy advantage; But he stoops, and woos, and entreats thee.¹ 'Tis a day of the Gladness of his heart when he prevails but with one soul to close with him: And all the rage of his persecutors did not grieve him more, than you will if you stand it out against him. 3. Consider, he is one that hath the power of thy life and death in his own hands; and this is one part of his Covenant, upon which thy life or death depends; as offered in the promise, so he waits, but as love is the Condition of it, so if thou hearkenest not, thou loosest thy share therein, and what thou choosest be it life, or death, thou shalt Certainly have.

Consider 1. Who it is that I plead for this day: Sirs I do not call you to doat upon thick clay, filth, and vanity: I do not plead to gain your hearts to one that is not worthy, or hath not deserved that you should place your affections upon him; if you can make either of these manifest, hate him and spare not; but I plead for one who is 1. glorious, and excellent, if you doubt it read his Character,