If you cannot do what you would, do what you can: Do but take it for your Duty and Works, for which you must give account to God, and keep you an account ⟨p. 14⟩how you perform it: Ask your selves what have I done for Souls this Week, or this day? Begin at home, and give to all an Example of Holiness, Heavenly meekness, and Self-denial: Then look to your Families: O!betray not the Souls of your Children and Servants, with a few slight good words or forms; but with Love and Diligence, Labour to make them understand Gods Word, and the things of their Salvation, Catechize them, and help them to understand and apply it. Keep them from ill Company, Labour to render Gods Service to them as it is, Necessary, Honourable and Pleasant: Time is short, Souls are precious, Hell is dreadful: Heaven is joyful, Devils and their wicked Servants are busy. While you have opportunity, labour to do good to all: Your Labour, if sincere, shall not be in vain. If you want Ability, labour to increase it, and get the help of such as can do better, get them to able Ministers: Put suitable Books into their Hands: Do not as those Sectaries, that to show their Gifts are ready to intrude as public Preachers, but instead of Patient and Compassionate Diligence with the Ignorant and Ungodly about them, do but exasperate them by Reproaches and Disgrace. Condescend to the least and lowest: Do all with Humility, and Winning Love. ⟨p. 15⟩Alas, Satan hath a greater and more dangerous Army, to fight against Christ and Holiness, and Mens Salvation, among the Great, and Rich, and Proud, and Careless Voluptuous Sinners, than among Witches and possessed Bodies. He wins and undoes most by pleasing them: If he can get them to prefer Earth before Heaven, and Wealth and Honour before Holiness, and to be lovers of fleshly Pleasures more than of God, and keep them from any serious Minister, or Means that would waken them and bring them to their Wits, and keep them from serious Consideration, and from thinking whither they are going, and how all their Carelessness, Ease and Sin will end; this is it that answereth his Soul murdering desires.
If you cannot do what you would, do what you can: Do but take it for your Duty and Works, for which you must give account to God, and keep you an account ⟨p. 14⟩how you perform it: Ask your selves what have I done for Souls this Week, or this day? Begin at home, and give to all an Example of Holiness, Heavenly meekness, and Self-denial: Then look to your Families: O!betray not the Souls of your Children and Servants, with a few slight good words or forms; but with Love and Diligence, Labour to make them understand Gods Word, and the things of their Salvation, Catechize them, and help them to understand and apply it. Keep them from ill Company, Labour to render Gods Service to them as it is, Necessary, Honourable and Pleasant: Time is short, Souls are precious, Hell is dreadful: Heaven is joyful, Devils and their wicked Servants are busie. While you have opportunity, labour to do good to all: Your Labour, if sincere, shall not be in vain. If you want Ability, labour to increase it, and get the help of such as can do better, get them to able Ministers: Put suitable Books into their Hands: Do not as those Sectaries, that to shew their Gifts are ready to intrude as publick Preachers, but instead of Patient and Compassionate Diligence with the Ignorant and Ungodly about them, do but exasperate them by Reproaches and Disgrace. Condescend to the least and lowest: Do all with Humility, and Winning Love. ⟨p. 15⟩Alas, Satan hath a greater and more dangerous Army, to fight against Christ and Holiness, and Mens Salvation, among the Great, and Rich, and Proud, and Careless Voluptuous Sinners, than among Witches and possessed Bodies. He wins and undoes most by pleasing them: If he can get them to prefer Earth before Heaven, and Wealth and Honour before Holiness, and to be lovers of fleshly Pleasures more than of God, and keep them from any serious Minister, or Means that would waken them and bring them to their Wits, and keep them from serious Consideration, and from thinking whither they are going, and how all their Carelesness, Ease and Sin will end; this is it that answereth his Soul murdering desires.
