The way to true happiness in a serious treatise /

Come then poor sinners, and help us who are willing at any rate to be your helpers. As we first crave Gods help, so we next crave yours. Help us, for we cannot save you against your wills, nor save you without your consent and help. God himself will not save you without you; and how should we? know that the Devil is against us, and will do ⟨image 6⟩his worst to hinder us; and so will all his Ministers by what names or titles soever dignified or distinguished. But all this is nothing, if you will but take our parts your selves: I mean if you will take Christs part, and your own, and will not be against your selves. Men and Devils cannot either help or hinder us in saving you as you may do your selves. If God and you be for us, who shall be against us?

And if you will help us, give over striving against God, and Conscience, give over fighting against Christ and his Spirit: take part no more with the World and the flesh which in your Baptism you renounced: set your hearts to the message which we bring you. Allow it your manlike sober thoughts; search the Scriptures, and see whether the things which we speak be so or no. We offer you nothing but what we have resolvedly c•••en our selves: and that after the most serious d•••ation that we can make. We have many a tim• looked round about us, to know what is the happiness of man: And had we found better for our selves, we had offered better to you. If the World would have served our turns, it should have served yours also; and we would not have troubled you with the talk of another world; but it will not; I am sure it will not serve your turns, to make you happy, nor shall you long make that sorry self-deceiving shift with it as now you do.