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

1. Remember, it is Necessity that is pleaded with you in my Text. One thing is Necessary. Necessity, and your own Necessity, is such an Argument, as one would think of it self should turn the scales, and fully resolve you, and put you past any further deliberation or delay. If Necessity, your own Necessity, and so great Necessity to so great an End, will not prevail with you, What will? Necessity is that ingens telum that natural reason taketh to be unresistible. Men think they may do almost any thing, if they can say Necessity commandeth it: Omnem legem frangit, magnum illud humanae imbecillitatis patroeinium, saith Seneca. What is it that Necessity seemeth not sufficient to justify with the most? And we will grant the Argument to be undeniable, if it be from absolute Necessity indeed, and if men will not dream that it is more Necessary to be Rich, or Honourable, or to Live, then to be Holy, and to be Blessed with God, and to please him that created them. Ubi necessitas incumbit, non ultra disputandum est, sed celerrimè & fortiter agendum. Words signify nothing against Necessity: Reason is but hindering troublesome folly, when it pleadeth against Necessity. Omni arte, omne ratione officacior necessitas. Curt. In worldly matters, how quick-sighted, how resolute, how active is Necessity? What conquerable difficulties will it not overcome? What labour will it not endure, if it have but the encouragement of hope? And yet this Necessity is indeed no true Necessity at all. For that which is Necessary but to my credit, or estate, or health, or life, can be no more Necessary then is my credit, and estate, and health, and life it self. When men do but fancy a Necessity where there is none, yet that will carry them through thick and thin. But O Sirs, you have a real undeniable Necessity to be Holy, and to set your selves to the work of your salvation; such a Necessity as is founded in your Nature, and laid on you by your Maker, and as all the true Reason in the world will confess to be indispensable Necessity. Faxis ut libeat quod est necesse.

1. REmember, it is Necessity that is pleaded with you in my Text. One thing is Necessary. Necessity, and your own Necessity, is such an Argument, as one would think of it self should turn the scales, and fully resolve you, and put you past any further deliberation or delay. If Necessity, your own Necessity, and so great Necessity to so great an End, will not prevail with you, What will? Necessity is that ingens telum that natural reason taketh to be unresistible. Men think they may do almost any thing, if they can say Necessity commandeth it: Omnem legem frangit, magnum illud humanae imbecillitatis patroeinium, saith Seneca. What is it that Necessity seemeth not sufficient to justifie with the most? And we will grant the Argument to be undenyable, if it be from absolute Necessity indeed, and if men will not dream that it is more Necessary to be Rich, or Honourable, or to Live, then to be Holy, and to be Blessed with God, and to please him that created them. Ubi necessitas incumbit, non ultra disputandum est, sed celerrimè & fortiter agendum. Words signifie nothing against Necessity: Reason is but hindering troublesom folly, when it pleadeth against Necessity. Omni arte, omne ratione officacior necessitas. Curt. In worldly matters, how quick-sighted, how resolute, how active is Necessity? What conquerable difficulties will it not overcome? What labour will it not endure, if it have but the encouragement of hope? And yet this Necessity is indeed no true Necessity at all. For that which is Necessary but to my credit, or estate, or health, or life, can be no more Necessary then is my credit, and estate, and health, and life it self. When men do but fancy a Necessity where there is none, yet that will carry them through thick and thin. But O Sirs, you have a real undenyable Necessity to be Holy, and to set your selves to the work of your salvation; such a Necessity as is founded in your Nature, and laid on you by your Maker, and as all the true Reason in the world will confess to be indispensable Necessity. Faxis ut libeat quod est necesse.