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

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.

2. But yet another condition I must propose. If thou wilt but (as I said before of others) a while make Tryal of a holy life, and try in thy self what Faith, and Hope, and Charity are, and try what selfdenyal is, I will then referr 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 perswaded to try the thing, thou art a partial self-deceiving judge.

3. But it this much cannot be obtained, at least be Considerate in thy judging. If thou wilt but take thy self aside from the noise of worldly vanities and deceits, and commune seriously with thy heart, and bethink thee as before the Lord, and as one that knows he must shortly dye, Whether Heaven or Earth should be sought most carefully, and Whether God or thy flesh should be served most resolvedly and diligently; and if thou wilt but dwell so long upon these manlike thoughts till they are digested, and Truth have time to show its face, I dare then leave the question to thy self. The next time that the Sermon or any affliction comes near thee and awakeneth thy Conscience, do but withdraw thy self into secret, and soberly bethink thee of the matter, what hopes thou hast from the world, and what thou […] have from God: what Time is, and what Eternity is, and give ••• ⟨p. 127⟩Conscience leave to speak, and then I will venture the issue upon thy Conscience: For thee I mean, though I must stick to a better judge my self. Doth not Conscience sometime tell thee, that the Holyest persons are the wisest, and that thy labour is liker at last to be lost and repented of, than theirs? Doth not Conscience sometime make thee wish that thou wert but in as safe a case as they: and that thou mightest but die the death of the Righteous, and that thy last end might be as theirs?