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

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.

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 referr my health to thee as my Physicion, 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 willfully condemn my soul, and none shall hinder me.

2. But yet another condition I must propose. If thou wilt but (as I said before of others) a while make Trial of a holy life, and try in thy self what Faith, and Hope, and Charity are, and try what self-denial is, I will then refer the matter to thy self. Go back from God if thou find any Reason for it: and turn from Christ and Heaven and Holiness if thou do not like them. But if thou wilt needs be the judge, and wilt not be persuaded to try the thing, thou art a partial self-deceiving judge.