Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…

11. Moreover the Nature of the Matter is such, as one would think, should for•e a Reasonable creature to consider of it, and often and earnestly to consider. When all these things concur in the matter, he must be a block or a mad man, that will not Consider. 1. When they are the most excellent, or the greatest things in all the world: 2. When they are our own matters; or nearly concern us. 3. When they are the most necessary, and profitable, and delightful things. And 4. When there is much difficulty in getting them, and danger of losing them, And all these go together in the matter of your Salvation.

11. Moreover the Nature of the Matter is such, as one would think, should for•e a Reasonable creature to consider of it, and often and earnestly to consider. When all these things concurre in the matter, he must be a block or a mad man, that will not Consider. 1. When they are the most excellent, or the greatest things in all the world: 2. When they are our own matters; or neerly concerne us. 3. When they are the most necessary, and profitable, and delightfull things. And 4. When there is much difficulty in getting them, and danger of losing them, And all these go together in the matter of your Salvation.

1. If you will not think of God, and your Souls, of Heaven, and Hell, what then will you think of? All other things in the world are but toys, and jesting matters to these. Crowns, and Kingdoms, Lands, and Lordships are but chaff, and baubles, dirt and dung, to these Everlasting things. The acts of renowned Kings and Conquerors, are but as Puppet-plays, in Comparison of ⟨p. 101⟩the working out of your Salvation. And yet will you not be drawn to the Consideration of such astonishing things as these? One would think that the exceeding Greatness of the matter, should force you to Consider it whether you will or no: when smaller Objects affect not the Senses, yet Greater will even force their way. He that hath so hard a skin that he cannot feel a feather, methinks should feel the weight of a mil-stone: And if he feel not the prick of a pin, methinks he should feel a dagger. He that cannot hear one whisper, methinks should hear a Cannon, or a clap of Thunder, if he have any such thing as hearing left him. He hath bad eyes that cannot see the Sun. One would think that so Glorious an Object as God, should so entice the eyes of men, that they should not look off him. One would think that such matters as Heaven and Hell should follow thy thoughts which way ever thou goest, so that thou shouldest not be able to look besides them, or to think almost of any thing else, unless with great neglect, and disesteem. O what a thing is a stony heart, that can forget not only the God that he liveth by, but also the place