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

It may be the Reader will say, be expected that instead of writing such popular discourses, I should have vindicated my self against the accusations, that in multitudes of Libels and Pamphlets are scattered abroad against me. But doth he think that man is seriously a Christian that is not more zealous for God and Religion, and the souls of men, then for himself? Have I nothing else to do with my time & labour, but plead cause of my own which God will so speedily and effectually plead? Will it not be time enough to be justified at the Bar and day of God? I am content that they carry it as they desire till then (were it not more for their own and other mens sakes then mine) Am I like to forsake my life & all for Christ, & endure torments if I were called to it, if I cannot endure to be reviled and slandered by passionate men? Was it for nothing that our Lord would not answer for himself when he was accused before Pilate? Shall they be able to calumniate under the threatenings of the Revenge of Heaven? and shall ⟨image 8⟩I not be able to be silent under such a promise, as Mat. 5. 10, 11, 12. The servant of the Lord must not strive! Our Lord gave us an example of not reviling again, when he was reviled: He made himself of no reputation, but endured the cross and contradiction of sinners, despising the shame. I confess I think when Gods interest, and the good of others doth require it, a man should not be wanting to his own defence, and I have long ago written that which will satisfy the impartial: But when I saw that it is like to tend to heats, and set more on work, I had rather let men call me all the names they can devise, and voluminously accuse me of any thing that malice shall suggest, then do any thing to foment contentions in the Church. But if God convince me that it is my duty to detect the calumnies of man, it is a work soon done.

It may be the Reader will say, be expected that instead of writing such popular discourses, I should have vindicated my self against the accusations, that in multitudes of Libels and Pamphlets are scattered abroad against me. But doth he think that man is seriously a Christian that is not more zealous for God and Religion, and the souls of men, then for himself? Have I nothing else to do with my time & labour, but plead cause of my own which God will so speedily and effectually plead? Will it not be time enough to be justified at the Bar and day of God? I am content that they carry it as they desire till then (were it not more for their own and other mens sakes then mine) Am I like to forsake my life & all for Christ, & endure torments if I were called to it, if I cannot endure to be reviled and slandered by passionate men? Was it for nothing that our Lord would not answer for himself when he was accused before Pilate? Shall they be able to calumniate under the threatnings of the Revenge of Heaven? and shall