Divers practical cases of conscience satisfactorily resolved ... to which are added some counsels…

Pr. 4. That the favour all of the world can nothing stead you if God be not pleased with you, and by you. If there were any that could save you from his wrath, you need not be so solicitous to please him: but if he be not pleased we are all undone. Thou, even thou art to be feared and who shall stand when once thou art angry? Psal. 76. 7. Isa. 43. 13. When men have slight thoughts of Gods anger, and the fear and dread of him is not upon their hearts, no wonder if they be not careful to please him: you must be convinced, that the displeasure of God is the most formidable thing in the world, or else ⟨p. 43⟩you will never learn this great Lesson. Beloved, if you should please men, and all the world should be on your side, what would this avail while God is your enemy? If all men should bless you and speak well of you, what would this profit when God should rise up in judgment against you and condemn you? It is not at mans Bar, but Gods that you must stand: It is not at mens Votes that you must be cast or quitted. It will not go by most voices, but God himself is the Judge, Psal. 75. 7. In his Breast it is whether you shall live or die. If a man were upon a trial for his life, what would it avail him that all his fellow prisoners, and the whole crowd about him were for him, when the whole Bench and Jury were against him? If your Lives and Estates were in question, to whom would you go to make your friend? the Judge or the People? Sirs, be convinced that if God be against, you, tis as bad as if God and all the world were against you. For all signifies nothing without him. Oh, whatever you do, study to get in and keep in with him. I tell you, the time is coming when the breath of men will signify nothing: when their Commendation will do you no good. O man! though all the world should give thee their hands, and subscribe thy Certificate, it would signify nothing in Gods account, or his Court. Many build their hopes for Heaven upon the good opinion that others have of them: But I tell thee man, though thou couldst carry Letters of commendation with thee when thou diest, and all the Ministers of the Gospel should give thee their Been discessit, all would be no more then a blank paper; and he would not save thee a jot the sooner, if he should find thee to have been but a secret ⟨p. 44⟩