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

Quest. 27. Dost thou not know that by thy speaking against a diligent holy life, thou gratifyest the Devil, and openly servest him, and sayest the very things that he would have thee say? What can more please him, and advance his Kingdom, and suit his malicious ends, then to stop and cool men in the service of the Lord, and make them believe that holiness is but a needless thing? If the Devil might have leave to walk visibly among men, and speak to them in their language, he would speak to them as thou dost, and say the same things which he […] into thy mouth; and ⟨p. 82⟩would do all that he could to keep men from a holy life. And darest thou thus openly play his part?

Quest. 27. Dost thou not know that by thy speaking against a diligent holy life, thou gratifyest the Devil, and openly servest him, and saist the very things that he would have thee say? What can more please him, and advance his Kingdom, and suit his malicious ends, then to stop and cool men in the service of the Lord, and make them believe that holiness is but a needless thing? If the Devil might have leave to walk visibly among men, and speak to them in their language, he would speak to them as thou dost, and say the same things which he 〈…〉 into thy mouth; and ⟨p. 82⟩would do all that he could to keep men from a holy life. And darest thou thus openly play his part?

Quest. 28. Canst thou think (when eternal life is at the stake) that a man so weak in the midst of so many hindrances and enemies, hath cause to count his diligence unnecessary? When Satan like a roaring Lyon, is seeking day and night to devour thee (1 Pet. 5. 8.) when his malice, subtlety, and diligence is so great, and so unwearied; when his instruments are so many, so subtle, and so powerful; when the world aboundeth round about thee with such dangerous enticing snares and baits; when thy traitorous flesh so near thee is thy most perilous enemy, uncessantly drawing thee from God unto the creature; and when thou art so impotent to resist all these assaults; art thou then in a condition fit to cry out against the greatest diligence for thy soul? Should a man going up the sleepest hill, when it is for his life, be afraid of going too fast? When thou hast done all thou canst, it is well for thee that ever thou wast born if it suffice. If weaknesses and enemies cause such a difficulty that the righteous themselves are scarcely saved (that is, with much ado) is it then time for thee to ask What needs so much ado?