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

10. If none of these witnesses be regarded by thee, I know not whom to appeal to, but thy self! And wilt thou needs thy self decide the case? Hast thou knowledge and experience, honesty, and impartiality enough to fit thee to be judge: If thou hadst, thou wouldst make no doubt of it, but have been resolved for Heaven and Holiness ere this. Thy unresolvedness proves thee blind and partial, and very much forsaken by the spirit of light: And should such a one be judge? But go to, I will much ⟨p. 126⟩refer thy case to thy self (reserving still the final judgement to the Lord) upon these just and reasonable conditions.

10. If none of these witnesses be regarded by thee, I know not whom to appeal to, but thy self! And wilt thou needs thy self decide the case? Hast thou knowledge and experience, honesty, and impartiality enough to fit thee to be judge: If thou hadst, thou wouldst make no doubt of it, but have been resolved for Heaven and Holiness ere this. Thy unresolvedness proves thee blind and partial, and very much forsaken by the spirit of light: And should such a one be judge? But go to, I will much ⟨p. 126⟩referre thy case to thy self (reserving still the final judgement to the Lord) upon these just and resonable conditions.

1. Wilt thou first thy self but use those necessary means for knowledge, in Reading, Fasting, Praying, Watching, Meditation, Conference with the wise, and such like, as all those do that come to ripe and saving Knowledge? If I refer my health to thee as my Physician, thou must not refuse to try my pulse, and see my urine, and use the means to find out the disease. Wouldst thou be my Lawyer, and refuse to read my Evidences, and study my case? And wilt thou needs be judge thy self of the matters of thine own felicity or misery, and yet refuse to read and hear and pray and meditate, and use the necessary means of understanding? Wilt thou lie in bed and work out thy salvation? Wilt thou make use of no ones eyes but thy own, and yet wilt thou wink or draw the Curtains, or shut the windows, and cast away thy spectacles, and neither come into the sunshine, nor use a candle? This is but to say, I will wilfully condemn my soul, and none shall hinder me.