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

DIRECT. XX. Live as with Death continually in your eye, and spend every day in serious preparation for it, that when it cometh, you may find your work dispatched; and may not then cry out in vain to God to try you once again.

DIRECT. XX. Live as with Death continually in your eye, and spend every day in serious preparation for it, that when it cometh, you may find your work dispatcht; and may not then cry out in vain to God to try you once again.

Promise not your selves long life: Think not of death as at many years distance, but as hard at hand. Think what will then be needful to your peace and comfort, and order all your life accordingly, and prepare that now, which will be needful then: Live now while you have time, as you will resolve and promise God to live, when on your death-bed you are praying for a little time of trial more: It is a great work to die in a joyful assurance and hope of everlasting life, and with a longing desire to depart and be with Christ as best of all, Phil. 1.21, 23. O then what a burden and terror it will be, to have an unbelieving, or a worldly heart, or a guilty Conscience, Now therefore use all possible diligence to strengthen Faith, to increase love, to be acquit from guilt, to be above the World, to have the mind set free from the Captivity of the flesh, to walk with God, and to obtain the deepest, most delectable apprehensions of his love in Christ, and of the heavenly blessedness which you expect. Do you feel any doubts of the state of immortality, or staggering at the Promise of God through unbelief! Presently do all you can to conquer them, and get a clear resolution ⟨p. 155⟩to your souls, and leave it not all to do at the time of sickness. Are the thoughts or God and Heaven unpleasant or terrible to you? Presently search out the cause of all, and labour in the cure of it as for your lives. Is there any former or present sin which is a burden or terror to your Consciences? Presently seek out to Christ for a Cure, by Faith and true Repentance; and do that to disburden your Consciences now, which you would do on a sick-bed; and leave not so great and necessary a […] to so uncertain and short and unfit a time. Is there any thing in this World that is swtr t your thoughts than God and Heaven? […] which you cannot willingly let go. Mrtii it without delay; consider of its vanity; compare it with Heaven; Crucify it by the Cross of Christ; cease not till you account it loss and ung, for the excellent knowledge of Christ and life eternal,