Christian letters full of spiritual instructions tending to the promoting of the power of…

Ah, dear Cousin, rouse up your self make conscience, to deal plainly and freely with your soul, say within your self, I have hopes for Heaven? but where are my grounds and my ⟨p. 130⟩Evidences? do I not build without a foundation? do I venture my Salvation upon mere uncertainties? What have I, what do I more than others? I pray, I hear, I read, but may not a mere Hypocrite do all this? I run not with others into the wretched practice of Lying, and Cozening, Whoredom, and the like; but what is this more than a Pharisee may have to say for himself? can I prove by Scripture my claim to Heaven? can I produce Chapter and Verse to justify my self?

Ah, dear Couzin, rouze up your self make conscience, to deal plainly and freely with your soul, say within your self, I have hopes for Heaven? but where are my grounds and my ⟨p. 130⟩Evidences? do I not build without a foundation? do I venture my Salvation upon meer uncertainties? What have I, what do I more than others? I pray, I hear, I read, but may not a meer Hypocrite do all this? I run not with others into the wretched practice of Lying, and Couzening, Whoredom, and the like; but what is this more than a Pharisee may have to say for himself? can I prove by Scripture my claim to Heaven? can I produce Chapter and Verse to justifie my self?

Oh Cousin, fear, least a Promise being left of entering into rest, you should by any mistakes, or self-deceits fall short through unbelief; fear lest you should take Count• •old, or some common workings for saving Grace. Oh, there is a world of counterfeit Coin going, multitudes perish by mistake, and wake in Hell, whilst they dreamt they were in Heaven: the temp•er is very subtle, and will sure deceive if he can: your heart is deceitful above all things, and is willing to cheat you if it can. Therefore am I engaged so earnestly to call upon you, as one that watcheth for your soul, to arise speedily and to set roundly to your work. Oh, consider your danger, and work out your Salvation with fear and trembling: away with these lazy Prayers, away with these cold and heartless Professions, away with this drowsy, lifeless, less Religion; bestir your self to purpose for your soul before it be too late, search your conscience as with Candles, be jealous of your self; consider, now is your time, what you do you must do quickly, the patience of God is waiting, Christ is knocking, the Spirit of God is striving, and death is at the door: Oh now take your opportunity, and take heed lest a thful heart, and the cares of this World, or a presumptuous confidence that all is well and safe already, should at last shut you out of the Kingdom of God.