Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity,…

IV. My next Counsel is, presently, understandingly, and considerately, renew the Covenant which you made in Baptism with God your Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.

Consider whether to be a Christian is not necessary to your Salvation; and then consider what it is to be a Christian, and whether it be not a far higher thing, than merely to take that name upon you, and be of that party, and to join with the right Church, and to have the bare words and picture of believers: And then consider whether God will be mocked with Shows, and Ceremonies, and dead Formalities, and false Professions; and whether ⟨p. 93⟩the lifeless Carcass or Image of Christianity will be taken by God instead of the life and power of it; and will ever save a Soul. Yea, whether a false counterfeit Christian, bred up under Christian Instructions and Examples, do not make your guilt far greater, and your case more miserable than Americans or Indians, that never heard what you have heard: And when perhaps you have spoken against Hypocrites your selves, whether there be any more notorious Hypocrites than such as you, who say you are Christians, and yet live to the Flesh in the odious sins which Christ abhorreth; Think what a dreadful thing it is to profess a Religion which condemneth you, and to say over that Creed which you believe not, and those Petitions in the Lords Prayer which you desire not, and those Commandments which you break and will condemn you: To rebel against God while you say you believe in him: To despise Christs Government while you say you trust him for Salvation: To ask for his Grace when you would not have it, to sanctify you, and save you from your sin: To beg Mercy of God, and to reject this Mercy, and to have no Mercy on your selves. O think what a doleful case it is to see distracted sinners such Hypocrites, ⟨p. 94⟩playing with such Contradictions, so near Gods Bar, and in his sight: And to make no better use of Prayers and the name of Christians, and the Profession of the Truth, than to give the Devil more matter to accuse you, and Conscience to torment you, and a righteous God to say to you at last, Out of thy own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked Rebel. Didst thou not confess, that Jesus was the Christ, and that thou didst believe the Gospel and the Life to come; and yet didst live in the wilful disobeying of Christ and the Gospel, and base contempt of God and thy Salvation?