Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

O what a glory would you be to your Profession, if you could attain to this degree? Could we but truly thus boast of you, we might say our people are Christians of the right strain. But when we must come about you like men in a swoon, and can hardly perceive whether you are alive or dead, and can scarce discern whether you have any Grace or none▪ what a grief is this to our hearts; what a perplexity to us in our administrations, not knowing whether comfort or terror be your due: and what a languishing uncomfortable life is this to your selves in comparison of what you might attain to?

Rouse up your selves Christians, and look after higher and greater things; and think it not enough that you are barely alive. It is an exceeding Righteousness that you must have if you will be saved, even exceeding all that the unsanctified do attain: For [Except your Righteousness exceed even the Righteousness of Scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 5.20.] But it is yet a more exceeding Righteousness, that you must have if you ⟨p. 63⟩will be Confirmed, built up, and abound, and would honour your Profession, and cheerfully, successfully and constantly go on in the Journey, the race, the warfare that you have begun: You must then exceed your selves, and exceed all the feeble, unstable, wavering, infant-Christians that are about you. And to persuade you yet further to look after this, I shall here annex a few Motives more.

Rouze up your selves Christians, and look after higher and greater things; and think it not enough that you are barely alive. It is an exceeding Righteousness that you must have if you will be saved, even exceeding all that the unsanctifyed do attain: For [Except your Righteousness exceed even the Righteousness of Scribes and Pharises, you shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 5.20