O foolish sinners! do you want company and business to pass away your time? Are you fain to go to Cards or Dice to waste this treasure, which is more precious then your money? Do you go to an Ale-house, a Play-house, or other such Pest house to seek for company and pastime: (I say not, to Bedlam; for that's as much more honourable then your sinful society, as the place that cureth or restraineth the mad, is better then that which makes them mad.) Do you forget what company and business you have at home. As you love your peace and happiness, instead of conversing with vain, lascivious, or ungodly persons, O spend that time in converse with your Consciences. You may there have a thousand times more profitable discourse. Be not offended to give Conscience a sober faithful answer, if it ask you, What you have done with all your Time? and how you have ⟨p. 198⟩lived in the world? and how you have obeyed the calls of grace? and how you have entertained Christ into your hearts? and whether you have obeyed him or his enemy? and whether you have been led by the spirit or the flesh? and what forwardness the work of your salvation is in, for which you came into the world? and what assurance you have of your Justification and Salvation? and what readiness to die? Think it not presumption in Conscience thus to examine you: Though you have perhaps unthankfully disdained to be thus examined by your Pastors, your external Guides, whose office it is to help you, and watch for your souls; yet do not disdain to be accountable to your selves. Accountable you must be ere long to God: And that friend that would help you to make ready such accounts, on which so great a weight dependeth, me thinks should be welcomed with a thousand thanks. Ministers and Conscience should be acceptable to you, that come on so necessary a work.
O foolish sinners! do you want company and business to pass away your time? Are you fain to go to Cards or Dice to waste this treasure, which is more precious then your money? Do you go to an Ale-house, a Play-house, or other such Pest house to seek for company and pastime: (I say not, to Bedlam; for thats as much more honourable then your sinfull society, as the place that cureth or restraineth the mad, is better then that which makes them mad.) Do you forget what company and business you have at home. As you love your peace and happiness, instead of conversing with vain, lascivious, or ungodly persons, O spend that time in converse with your Consciences. You may there have a thousand times more profitable discourse. Be not offended to give Conscience a sober faithfull answer, if it ask you, What you have done with all your Time? and how you have ⟨p. 198⟩lived in the world? and how you have obeyed the calls of grace? and how you have entertained Christ into your hearts? and whether you have obeyed him or his enemy? and whether you have been led by the spirit or the flesh? and what forwardness the work of your salvation is in, for which you came into the world? and what assurance you have of your Justification and Salvation? and what readiness to die? Think it not presumption in Conscience thus to examine you: Though you have perhaps unthankfully disdained to be thus examined by your Pastors, your external Guides, whose office it is to help you, and watch for your souls; yet do not disdain to be accountable to your selves. Accountable you must be ere long to God: And that friend that would help you to make ready such accounts, on which so great a weight dependeth, me thinks should be welcomed with a thousand thanks. Ministers and Conscience should be acceptable to you, that come on so necessary a work.
