An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners

What think you should move us to undertake a calling so contrary to our fleshly ease and interests? Do we not know the way of Ease and Honour, of Wealth and Pleasures as well as others? And have we not flesh as well as others? Could we not be content that the cup of reproach and scorn and slander and poverty and labours, might pass from us, if it were not for the will of God and your salvation? Why should ⟨image 5⟩we love to be the lowest, and trodden down by malignant pride, and counted as the filth of the world and the offscouring of all things, and represented to Rulers whom we honour, as schismatics, disobedient, turbulent, unruly, by every Church-usurper, whom we refuse to make a God of? Why give we not over this preaching of the Gospel, at the will of Satan, that is for the everlasting suffering of your souls, under the pretence of making us suffer? Is not all this that you may be converted and saved? If we be herein besides our selves, it is for you. Could the words of the ignorant or proud, have persuaded us, that either your wants and dangers are so inconsiderable, or your other supplies and helps so sufficient, that our labours had been unnecessary to you, God knoweth we should have readily obeyed the silencing sort of Pastors, and have betaken us to some other land, where our service had been more necessary. Let shame be that hypocrites reward who taketh not the saving of souls, and the pleasing of God, for a sufficient reward, without Ecclesiastical Dignities, preferments, or worldly wealth.

What think you should move us to undertake a calling so contrary to our fleshly ease and interests? Do we not know the way of Ease and Honour, of Wealth and Pleasures as well as others? And have we not flesh as well as others? Could we not be content that the cup of reproach and scorn and slander and poverty and labours, might pass from us, if it were not for the will of God and your salvation? Why should ⟨image 5⟩we love to be the lowest, and trodden down by malignant pride, and counted as the filth of the world and the offscouring of all things, and represented to Rulers whom we honour, as schismaticks, disobedient, turbulent, unruly, by every Church-usurper, whom we refuse to make a God of? Why give we not over this preaching of the Gospel, at the will of Satan, that is for the everlasting suffering of your souls, under the pretense of making us suffer? Is not all this that you may be converted and saved? If we be herein besides our selves, it is for you. Could the words of the ignorant or proud, have perswaded us, that either your wants and dangers are so inconsiderable, or your other supplies and helps so sufficient, that our labours had been unnecessary to you, God knoweth we should have readily obeyed the silencing sort of Pastors, and have betaken us to some other land, where our service had been more necessary. Let shame be that hypocrites reward who taketh not the saving of souls, and the pleasing of God, for a sufficient reward, without Ecclesiastical Dignities, preferments, or wordly wealth.