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

The reason of this distracted judgement of the most, is within themselves. It is not because that there is any such difficulty in the case, as should put a wise man to a stand; Nor it is not because they have not sufficient evidence in the word, or that God denied them Teachers, Books, or any Necessary Means for their information. The Light is among them; but they Love it not because their hearts and deeds are evil, and their darkness doth not comprehend it; and this is their delusion, and their condemnation, Joh. 1. 6, 7, 8. & 3. 19.

The reason of this distracted judgement of the most, is within themselves. It is not because that there is any such difficulty in the case, as should put a wise man to a stand; Nor it is not because they have not sufficient evidence in the word, or that God denyed them Teachers, Books, or any Necessary Means for their information. The Light is among them; but they Love it not because their hearts and deeds are evil, and their darkness doth not comprehend it; and this is their delusion, and their condemnation, Joh. 1. 6, 7, 8. & 3. 19.

When I am preaching to a congregation of many hundred or thousand souls, if the salvation of all that people did lie upon any other question no harder then this that we have in hand, so it were such as fleshly interest, and corrupted minds and wills had no quarrel against, how easily, how surely should I save the souls of all that heard me! Reader, let me have thy judgement. If ⟨p. 106⟩the Question were, Whether Light or Darkness be the Better▪ Whether a dead corps be better then a Living man? Whether a cottage for a day, or a Rich habitation for term of life be better? Whether as much drink as will make thee drunk, or a nights lodging with a whre, be better then Lands and Lordships for thy life time, or for a thousand years? Whether one sweet cup with shame and beggary all thy life after, or one bitter draught with perpetual prosperity, should be rather chosen? Whether a sick man were better take an unpleasing medicine that would cure him, or a pleasant poison that would kill him? Whether he were better pay a little to the Physician, or dye to save his money? Whether that Prince be wise that will sell his Kingdom for a cup of wine, or for children's rackets? Or whether that child e virtuous that cannot abide his Fathers sight or house or commands, but loveth better to do that which he knows displeaseth him, or to tumble in the dirt with swine? I say, if any of these were the Question to be Resolved, and the salvation of all that heard me lay upon the true Resolution, I leave it to your own judgements, Whether I were not like to save the souls of all that heard me? And yet in a case as clear in it self, and much more clear, how few do we prevail with? Is not the Question [Whether God or the Creature, Holiness or Sin, Earth or Heaven, Short or Everlasting pleasures should be preferred?] as plain to a wise man as any of those that I mentioned before? Is it not as plain a case to a man of judgement, [Whether Holiness, with Everlasting joys, be better then fleshly pleasures with damnation?] as whether a Kingdom be better then a Jail, or Gold then dirt, or health then sickness? Yet do your salvations lie upon this Question, this easy Question. I must again repeat it; All your salvations lie upon the practical resolution of this easy Question.