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

Sinners, what ever the Devil and raging passion may say against a holy life, God and your own consciences shall be our witnesses, that we desired nothing unreasonable, or unnecessary at your hands. I know it is the master-piece of the Devils craft, when he cannot keep all Religion in contempt, to raise up a dust of controversy in the world about names, and forms, and circumstances in Religion, that he may keep men busily striving about these, while Religion it self is neglected or unknown; and that he may make men believe that they have some Religion, because they are for one side or other ⟨p. 171⟩in these controversies: and especially that he may entice men to number the substantials of Religion it self among these lesser doubtful points, and make sinners believe that it is but the precise opinion of one party that they reject, while they reject the serious practice of all true Religion. And so the Devil gets more by these petty quarrels and controversies, occasioned by contentious empty men, then he could have done by the open opposition of Infidels, Heathens, or the profane: So that neither I, nor any man that opinionative men have a mind to quarrel with, can tell how to exhort you to the very practice of Christianity it self, but you are presently casting your thoughts upon some points wherein we are reported to differ from you, or remembering some clamours of malicious men, that prejudice against the person of the speaker, make keep your souls ⟨p. 172⟩from profiting to salvation by the doctrine which even your selves profess.

Sinners, what ever the Devil and raging passion may say against a holy life, God and your own consciences shall be our witnesses, that we desired nothing unreasonable, or unnecessary at your hands. I know it is the master-piece of the Devils craft, when he cannot keep all Religion in contempt, to raise up a dust of controversie in the world about names, and forms, and circumstances in Religion, that he may keep men busily striving about these, while Religion it self is neglected or unknown; and that he may make men believe that they have some Religion, because they are for one side or other ⟨p. 171⟩in these controversies: and especially that he may entice men to number the substantials of Religion it self among these lesser doubtful points, and make sinners believe that it is but the precise opinion of one party that they reject, while they reject the serious practice of all true Religion. And so the Devil gets more by these petty quarrels and controversies, occasioned by contentious empty men, then he could have done by the open opposition of Infidels, Heathens, or the prophane: So that neither I, nor any man that opinionative men have a mind to quarrel with, can tell how to exhort you to the very practice of Christianity it self, but you are presently casting your thoughts upon some points wherein we are reported to differ from you, or remembring some clamours of malicious men, that prejudice against the person of the speaker, make keep your souls