Now or never the holy, serious, diligent believer justified, encouraged, excited and directed, and…

Did a Seneca see by the light of nature, so much of the necessity of seriousness and diligence, about the matters of the soul? and so much of the madness of spending words and time on trifles? And yet shall there be found a man among professed Christians, and among the Preachers of Faith and Holiness, that plead for trifling, and scorn at seriousness, and count them moderate and wise that a Heathen brands as toyish and distracted?

What is it that cloudeth the glory of Christianity, and keepeth so great a part of the world in Heathenism and Infidelity: but this, that among Christians there are so few that are Christians indeed? and those few are so obscured by the multitude of formal trifling hypocrites, that Christianity is measured and judged of by the lives of those that are no Christians? Religion is a thing to be demonstrated ⟨p. 85⟩and honoured and commended by practice: words alone are ineffectual to represent its excellency to so blind a world, that must know by feeling, having lost their sight. In our professed faith we mount unto the Heavens, and leave poor unbelievers wallowing in the dirt. O what a transcendent, unconceivable glory, do we profess to expect with God unto eternity! And what manner of persons should they be, in holy conversation and godliness, that look for such a life as this? How basely should they esteem those transitory things, that are the food and felicity of the sensual world? How patiently should they undergo contempt and scorn, and whatsoever man can inflict upon them? How studiously should they devote and refer all their time, and strength, and wealth, and interest, to this their glorious blessed end? How seriously should they speak of, and how industriously should they seek, ⟨p. 86⟩such sure, such near, such endless joys? Did professed Christians more exactly conform their hearts and lives to their profession and holy rule, their lives would confute the reproaches of their enemies, and command a reverent and awful estimation from the observers, and do more to convince the unbelieving world of the truth and dignity of the Christian faith, then all the words of the most subtle disputant Christianity being an affecting practical Science, must practically and affectionately be declared according to its nature: Arguments do but paint it out: And pictures do no more make known its excellency, then the picture of meat and drink makes known its sweetness. When a doctrine so holy, is visibly exemplified, and liveth, and walketh, and worketh in serious Christians before the world: Either this or nothing will convince them and constrain them, to glorify our Lord,