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

If the wit and malice of Satan's instruments were sharpened against the ways and servants of the Lord, ⟨p. 95⟩it belongs to you to plead Christs cause, and shame these absurd unreasonable gainsayers, and stop the mouth of impious contradiction: And will you join with the gainsayers, and secretly or openly say as they? Who should confound the d•• ders of a holy life but you? Who should lay open the excellencies of Christ, the Glory of Heaven, the terrors of the Lord, and all other obligations to the most serious Religiousness, but you that have undertaken it as your calling and employment? If any man in the Parish were so Atheistical and brutish, as to think God unworthy of our dearest Love, our most exact obedience, and most laborious service, who should display this Atheists folly, but you that are doubly (as Christians, and as Ministers) obliged to defend the honour of your Lord• If any of the people should fall into such a dream or dotage, as to question the necessity of our utmost diligence ⟨p. 96⟩in our preparations for eternal life, who should awake them by lifting up their voices as a trumpet, and help to recover their understandings, but you that are the watchmen, and know their blood will be required at your hands, if you give them not loud and timely warning? if any subtle malicious servant of the Devil, should plead against the Necessity of Holiness, and dissuade the people from serving God with all their might, who should be ready to confirm the weak, and strengthen and encourage them that are thus assaulted, and help to keep up their zeal and forwardness, but you that are leaders in the Army of the Lord? is it not a Holy God that you are engaged to serve? And a Holy Church in which you have your station? And a Communion of Saints in which you have undertaken to administer the Holy things of God? Have you not read what was done to Nadab and Abihu, ⟨p. 97⟩when Moses told Aaron [This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before the people I will be glorified] Lev. 10. 3. Is it not a Holy Law and Gospel which you publish? You have undertaken to warn the slothful, the sensual, the worldly and the profane, that they strive to enter in at the straight gate, and seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness,