The crucifying of the world

2. It is your Principal End, that hath the Principal Interest in you. That can do most with you, and prevail most in a contest. Can God or the world do more with you? Which of them doth prevail, when an opposition doth arise? I speak not of God in his efficiency; for so I know he can do what his list; and will do it whether you will or no; and will not ask your consent to do it. But its God as your End, that I now speak of; as he worketh Morally by your own consent and upon your wills. Honours, and Profits, and Pleasures are before you, and these would draw you to something that he forbids: And God and Glory are propounded to you to take you off, & turn your hearts another way; which of these can do more with you? which is it that can nullify the persuasions of the other?

2. It is your Principal End, that hath the Principal Interest in you. That can do most with you, and prevail most in a contest. Can God or the world do more with you? Which of them doth prevail, when an opposition doth arise? I speak not of God in his efficiency; for so I know he can do what his list; and will do it whether you will or no; and will not ask your consent to do it. But its God as your End, that I now speak of; as he worketh Morally by your own consent and upon your wills. Honours, and Profits, and Pleasures are before you, and these would draw you to something that he forbids: And God and Glory are propounded to you to take you off, & turn your hearts another way; which of these can do more with you? which is it that can nullifie the perswasions of the other?

3. It is your Principal End, that hath the principal ruling and ⟨p. 82⟩disposal of your whole life. •do purposely contrive the ma• part of your life in order to it: If you are indeed Christians▪ and God be your End, the main drift of your Life is a contrived Means for the obtaining of that End; that is to Please God, and to enjoy him in everlasting glory. If you were such as you should be, you should have no other End at all, nor should you ever do one work, or receive or use one creature, or speak one word, or behold one object, but as a means to God, intending the pleasing and enjoying him in all: As a traveller should not go one step of his journey, but in order to his End. But while we are Imperfect in our Love, and other graces, this will not be But yet the main bent and drift of our Lives must needs be for God and the Life to come; and thus it is with every true Believer; and you are none if it be not thus with you. I say it again, left you should slightly pass it over, though you may through infirmity sometimes step out of the way yet if God be your End and Happiness, that is, if he be your God, and you be Christians, the main scope, and bent, and drift of your lives is for to please God and enjoy him in glory. But if the main scope and drift of your life be for the flesh and the world, and God and Religion comes in but upon the by, you are then no better then unsanctified worldlings: Though you may do much in Religion, and be zealous about it, and seem the devoutest and most resolved professors in all the Country where you live, yet if all this be but in subordination to the flesh and the world, or if co-ordinate it have the smaller Interest in your hearts, and when you have done or suffered most for Christ, you will do and suffer more for the flesh and world, you are carnal wretches and no true Christians. O that you would let conscience do its office, and Judge you as we go along according to Evidence! It is not by one or two Actions that you can judge of your estate, but by the main scope, and bent, and drift of your life. What is your very heart set upon? What is your care, and your chief contrivances? Are they for Heaven or Earth? Speak out, and take the comfort of your sincerity if you are Christians: and if you are not, know it while there is remedy, and do not wilfully deceive your selves.