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…

31. Consider also whether it be equal, that you should delay your Conversion, when you can seasonably dispatch your worldly business, and when your flesh would be provided for, you can hearken to it without Delay. You have wit enough to sow ⟨p. 412⟩your seed in season, and will not delay it till the time of harvest: You will reap your corn when it is ripe, and gather your fruit when it is ripe, without delay. You observe the seasons in the course of your labours, day by day, and year by year: You will not lie in bed when you should be at your work, nor delay all night to go to your rest; nor suffer your servants to delay your business: You will know your dinner time, and supper time day by day: If you be sick you will seek help without delay, lest your disease should grow to be uncurable. And yet will you delay your Conversion, and the making sure of Heaven? Why Sirs, shall these trifles be done without delay, and shall your Salvation be put off? In the Name of God Sirs what do you think of? Do you imagine that you can better suffer Hell-f•re, then hunger, or nakedness? Or that you can better bear the loss of Everlasting Joys, then the loss of your commodities, and provisions in the world. Sure if you believe the life to come, you cannot think so. And can you have while for every thing, except that one thing, which all the rest are merely to promote? ⟨p. 413⟩and in comparison of which they are all but dreams? Can you have while to work, to plough, and sow, and reap, and cannot you have while to prepare for Eternal Life? Why Sirs, if you cannot find time yet to search your hearts, and turn to God, and prepare for death; give over eating, and drinking, and sleeping, and say, you cannot have time for these. You may as wisely say so for these smaller matters, as the greater.

31. Consider also whether it be equal, that you should delay your Conversion, when you can seasonably dispatch your worldly business, and when your flesh would be provided for, you can hearken to it without Delay. You have wit enough to sow ⟨p. 412⟩your seed in season, and will not delay it till the time of harvest: You will reap your corn when it is ripe, and gather your fruit when it is ripe, without delay. You observe the seasons in the course of your labours, day by day, and year by year: You will not lie in bed when you should be at your work, nor delay all night to go to your rest; nor suffer your servants to delay your business: You will know your dinner time, and supper time day by day: If you be sick you will seek help without delay, lest your disease should grow to be uncurable. And yet will you delay your Conversion, and the making sure of Heaven? Why Sirs, shall these trifles be done without delay, and shall your Salvation be put off? In the Name of God Sirs what do you think of? Do you imagine that you can better suffer Hell-fre, then hunger, or nakedness? Or that you can better bear the loss of Everlasting Joyes, then the loss of your commodities, and provisions in the world. Sure if you believe the life to come, you cannot think so. And can you have while for every thing, except that one thing, which all the rest are meerly to promote?