A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

3. It is a day of Salvation; and the pursuing of Salvation is Opus grande, a great work, a vast employment: many things are required to accomplish it, many lusts to be subdued, many duties to be discharged, many temptations to be resisted, many relations to be filled. Now a great work must be begun betimes. If you had but a little to do in the day, you might lie in bed a great while in the morning: but you have a vast work to do; and therefore ⟨p. 106⟩get up early. Some poor Creatures will rise up early to washing; a pitiful work to the cleansing of thy Soul: a far greater work surely than to wash clothes. If you had a thousand Souls, they might all be employed for the obtaining of Salvation. If every singer were a hand, they might all be employed in getting of Salvation. He that hath many Children to look after and a small Estate, many to feed and clothe, he saith, I must rise early and sit up late. None have so much business as a Christian. The work of Christianity is never at an end. The art of Religion is never learned. There is still an &c. still something remaining to be done. Blessed Paul thought himself far from perfection: I do not look upon my self as having attained: the best have much more to be done, than they have already done. I have read of a famous Limner, who when he had wrought his picture in the best and most curious manner, would never write at the bottom feci, but faciebam, I did it, not I have done it; because he judged he had never wrought any picture so well, but he might work it better, and add something more of art to it. A Christian's art is never complete while he liveth in this world, nor ever did a Saint think himself a complete Artist. How exceeding large are the commands of God! how little is our most, and how bad is our best, compared with the rule!

3. It is a day of Salvation; and the pursuing of Salvation is Opus grande, a great work, a vast employment: many things are required to accomplish it, many lusts to be subdued, many duties to be discharged, many temptations to be resisted, many relations to be filled. Now a great work must be begun betimes. If you had but a little to do in the day, you might lie in bed a great while in the morning: but you have a vast work to do; and therefore ⟨p. 106⟩get up early. Some poor Creatures will rise up early to washing; a pitiful work to the cleansing of thy Soul: a far greater work surely than to wash clothes. If you had a thousand Souls, they might all be employed for the obtaining of Salvation. If every singer were a hand, they might all be employed in getting of Salvation. He that hath many Children to look after and a small Estate, many to feed and cloath, he saith, I must rise early and sit up late. None have so much business as a Christian. The work of Christianity is never at an end. The art of Religion is never learned. There is still an &c. still something remaining to be done. Blessed Paul thought himself far from perfection: I do not look upon my self as having attained: the best have much more to be done, than they have already done. I have read of a famous Limner, who when he had wrought his picture in the best and most curious manner, would never write at the bottom feci, but faciebam, I did it, not I have done it; because he judged he had never wrought any picture so well, but he might work it better, and add something more of art to it. A Christian's art is never complete while he liveth in this world, nor ever did a Saint think himself a complete Artist. How exceeding large are the commands of God! how little is our most, and how bad is our best, compared with the rule!