In a word, Apply this quickening ⟨p. 46⟩precept to all the duties of thy Christian course. Be Religious and Just, and Charitable in good sadness, if you would be taken for such when you look for the reward. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2. 12. Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many shall seek to enter and shall not be able, Mat. 7. 13. Luk. 12. 24. Many run, but few receive the prize: so run that you may obtain, 1 Cor. 9. 24. If the Righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. 4. 18. Let the doting world deride your diligence, and set themselves to hinder and afflict you: It will be but a little while before experience change their minds, and make them sing another song. Follow Christ fully: Ply your work, and lose no time. The Judge is coming. Let not words nor any thing that man can do, prevail with you to sit down, or stop you in a journey of such importance. Please God, though flesh, and friends, ⟨p. 47⟩and all the world should be displeased. Whatever come of your reputation, or Estates, or Liberties, or Lives, be sure you look to Life Eternal, and cast not that on any hazard, for a withering flower, or a pleasant dream, or a picture of commodity, or any vanity that the Deceiver can present. For what shall it profit you to win the world, and lose your soul? Mat. 16. 26. Or to have been honoured and obeyed on earth, when you are under the wrath of God in Hell? Or that your flesh was once provided with variety of delights, when its turned to rottenness, and must be raised to torments? Hold on therefore in Faith, and Holiness, and Hope, though Earth and Hell should rage against you; though all the world by force or flattery, should do the worst they can to hinder you: This is your trial: your warfare, is the resisting of deceit, and of all that would tempt you to consent to the means of your own destruction: ⟨p. 48⟩consent not, and you conquer: conquer, and you are crowned. The combat is all about your Wills; Yield, and you have lost the day. If the prating of ungodly fools, or the contemptuous jeers of hardened sinners, or the frowns of unsanctified Superiors could prevail against the Spirit of Christ, and the workings of an enlightened mind, then what man would be saved? You deserve damnation, if you will run into it to avoid a mock, or the loss of any thing that man can take from you.
In a word, Apply this quickening ⟨p. 46⟩precept to all the duties of thy Christian course. Be Religious and Just, and Charitable in good sadness, if you would be taken for such when you look for the reward. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2. 12. Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many shall seek to enter and shall not be able, Mat. 7. 13. Luk. 12. 24. Many run, but few receive the prize: so run that you may obtain, 1 Cor. 9. 24. If the Righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. 4. 18. Let the doting world deride your diligence, and set themselves to hinder and afflict you: It will be but a little while before experience change their minds, and make them sing another song. Follow Christ fully: Ply your work, and lose no time. The Judge is coming. Let not words nor any thing that man can do, prevail with you to sit down, or stop you in a journey of such importance. Please God, though flesh, and friends, ⟨p. 47⟩and all the world should be displeased. Whatever come of your reputation, or Estates, or Liberties, or Lives, be sure you look to Life Eternal, and cast not that on any hazard, for a withering flower, or a pleasant dream, or a picture of commodity, or any vanity that the Deceiver can present. For what shall it profit you to win the world, and lose your soul? Mat. 16. 26. Or to have been honoured and obeyed on earth, when you are under the wrath of God in Hell? Or that your flesh was once provided with variety of delights, when its turned to rottenness, and must be raised to torments? Hold on therefore in Faith, and Holiness, and Hope, though Earth and Hell should rage against you; though all the world by force or flattery, should do the worst they can to hinder you: This is your trial: your warfare, is the resisting of deceit, and of all that would tempt you to consent to the means of your own destruction: ⟨p. 48⟩consent not, and you conquer: conquer, and you are crowned. The combat is all about your Wills; Yield, and you have lost the day. If the prating of ungodly fools, or the contemptuous jears of hardned sinners, or the frowns of unsanctified Superiours could prevail against the Spirit of Christ, and the workings of an enlightened mind, then what man would be saved? You deserve damnation, if you will run into it to avoid a mock, or the loss of any thing that man can take from you.
