A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

Be not offended if I speak yet plainlyer to you; for in a case so lamentable, how can we be too plain or serious? Suppose you knew a Prince or Lord, that had an itch upon him, which the Physician offereth speedily and easily to cure; but he hath so much pleasure in scratching, that he doth not only refuse the cure, lest it deprive him of his delight, but he will give his Kingdom or Lordship to one that will scratch him but a little while, though he be sure to live a beggar after it all his days. I put it to your selves, What name you would give this man, or what esteem you would have of him: Do you think that any ungodly worldly person is wiser than this man? Alas their case is so much worse, that there is no comparison: They are more foolish then your hearts can now conceive, or then I am able fully to express. You have now the itch of Pride and Lust; and your throats must be pleased in your meats, and drinks; and you itch after riches, and honour, and recreations; and Christ telleth you by his Word, that these are but your sick desires, and that the pleasing of them tends to kill you; and he offereth you for nothing, a safe, and certain, and speedy cure: But you refuse it, and will not hearken to him: You must be scratched whatever it cost you: You must have your riches, and honour, and fleshly pleasure, as the felicity which you cannot part with, though it cost you your salvation. Though God be neglected, and his favour lost, and your souls be lost, and the One thing needful cast aside, you must have your carnal imaginations gratified: And is this your wisdom? The Lord bless us from such a kind of wisdom.

Be not offended if I speak yet plainlyer to you; for in a case so lamentable, how can we be too plain or serious? Suppose you knew a Prince or Lord, that had an itch upon him, which the Physicion offereth speedily and easily to cure; but he hath so much pleasure in scratching, that he doth not only refuse the cure, lest it deprive him of his delight, but he will give his Kingdom or Lordship to one that will scratch him but a little while, though he be sure to live a beggar after it all his dayes. I put it to your selves, What name you would give this man, or what esteem you would have of him: Do you think that any ungodly worldly person is wiser than this man? Alas their case is so much worse, that there is no comparison: They are more foolish then your hearts can now conceive, or then I am able fully to express. You have now the itch of Pride and Lust; and your throats must be pleased in your meats, and drinks; and you itch after riches, and honour, and recreations; and Christ telleth you by his Word, that these are but your sick desires, and that the pleasing of them tends to kill you; and he offereth you for nothing, a safe, and certain, and speedy cure: But you refuse it, and will not hearken to him: You must be scratcht whatever it cost you: You must have your riches, and honour, and fleshly pleasure, as the felicity which you cannot part with, though it cost you your salvation. Though God be neglected, and his favour lost, and your souls be lost, and the One thing needful cast aside, you must have your carnal imaginations gratified: And is this your wisdom? The Lord bless us from such a kind of wisdom.