7. As long as you neglect the One thing Needful, whatever good conceits of your selves you have entertained, and whatever hopes, or peace, or comfort, you have built upon those conceits, they are all but mere delusions and irrational, like the laughter of a mad man, that is no comfort to the standers by, who know that it is but the fruit of his distemper, and maketh him an object of more compassion. What wisdom is it to look high and carry it gallantly in the world, when you know not but vengeance may overtake you the next hour? Alas man, thou hast to do with God: Though thou see him not, it is he that upholds thee, and observeth thee, and looketh for Love and Duty from thee, and will be Glorified by thee, or thou shalt dearly answer it: God will not be neglected and abused at so cheap a rate as sottish Infidels imagine. He despiseth thee, if thou despise him, 1 Sam. 2. 30. and thou despisest him, if thou despise his Messengers, and Word, and Ways, Luke 10. 16. 1 Thes. 4. 8. And if God despise thee, what […] ⟨p. 40⟩[…] ⟨p. 41⟩⟨p. 42⟩honour is it to thee to be stout-hearted and high in thy own conceit, and to live applauded by thy self and others? Think of your selves as well as you will, God counteth you worse then the basest brutes, as long as you make your selves so, by neglecting the One thing for which you have your reason. When you swagger it out in the world, you do but gingle your fetters, and glory in your shame, Phil. 3. 18, 19. While fools admire you, God abhorreth you; he laugheth you to scorn, and hath you in derision, as he expresseth himself after the manner of men, Prov. 1. 26. 27, 28. Psalm 2. 4. When you are proud of your riches, or honour with such as your selves, you are but proud of the bonds of your captivity, 2 Tim. 2. 26. Though you live as carelessly and merrily, and laugh as heartily, and sport your selves as fearlessly as if all were safe, and nothing ailed you, yet your mirth is but your madness, Eccles. 7. 4, 6. and 2. 2. and God seeth that your day (a woeful day) is coming, Psalm 37. 13. and you know not but you may the next hour be tormented in hell, that this hour are so pleasant and confident on earth. And is this a desirable or rational kind of mirth? Did you but now foresee the end; did you see what you must see, or feel a little of what you must feel, you would presently be far from mirth or laughter;
7. As long as you neglect the One thing Needful, whatever good conceits of your selves you have entertained, and whatever hopes, or peace, or comfort, you have built upon those conceits, they are all but meer delusions and irrational, like the laughter of a mad man, that is no comfort to the standers by, who know that it is but the fruit of his distemper, and maketh him an object of more compassion. What wisdom is it to look high and carry it gallantly in the world, when you know not but vengeance may overtake you the next hour? Alas man, thou hast to do with God: Though thou see him not, it is he that upholds thee, and observeth thee, and looketh for Love and Duty from thee, and will be Glorified by thee, or thou shalt dearly answer it: God will not be neglected and abused at so cheap a rate as sottish Infidels imagine. He despiseth thee, if thou despise him, 1 Sam. 2. 30. and thou despisest him, if thou despise his Messengers, and Word, and Wayes, Luke 10. 16. 1 Thes. 4. 8. And if God despise thee, what 〈…〉 ⟨p. 40⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 41⟩⟨p. 42⟩honour is it to thee to be stout-hearted and high in thy own conceit, and to live applauded by thy self and others? Think of your selves as well as you will, God counteth you worse then the basest brutes, as long as you make your selves so, by neglecting the One thing for which you have your reason. When you swagger it out in the world, you do but gingle your fetters, and glory in your shame, Phil. 3. 18, 19. While fools admire you, God abhorreth you; he langheth you to scorn, and hath you in derision, as he expresseth himself after the manner of men, Prov. 1. 26. 27, 28. Psalm 2. 4. When you are proud of your riches, or honour with such as your selves, you are but proud of the bonds of your captivity, 2 Tim. 2. 26. Though you live as carelesly and merrily, and laugh as heartily, and sport your selves as fearlesly as if all were safe, and nothing ailed you, yet your mirth is but your madness,
