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

11. And really do you think if we could speak with Angels or departed Souls, that they would not consent with God and all Believers in their Testimony? O how they would rebuke their madness, that make any doubt of so great, so plain, so sure a truth, as this of the necessity and the excellency of a Holy life. None are so fully resolved of this question as they that have tasted the End of both, and past the righteous judgement of the Lord. They that are feeling the anguish of their Consciences, and the tormenting displeasure of Almighty God, are satisfied by this time: whether the Godly or ungodly were the Wiser men, and whether sanctity or sensuality were the Better course? They that are rejoicing with Christ in Glory, are satin fied perfectly of this question, and are far from repenting of their choice. Luk. 16. Christ tells you enough, in the case of the Rich man and Lazarus, how men judge in the life to come.

11. And really do you think if we could speak with Angels or departed Souls, that they would not consent with God and all Believers in their Testimony? O how they would rebuke their madness, that make any doubt of so great, so plain, so sure a truth, as this of the necessity and the excellency of a Holy life. None are so fully resolved of this question as they that have tasted the End of both, and past the righteous judgement of the Lord. They that are feeling the anguish of their Consciences, and the tormenting displeasure of Almighty God, are satisfied by this time: whether the Godly or ungodly were the Wiser men, and whether sanctity or sensuality were the Better course? They that are rejoycing with Christ in Glory, are sati• fied perfectly of this question, and are far from repenting of their choice. Luk. 16. Christ tells you enough, in the case of the Rich man and Lazarus, how men judge in the life to come.

12. But if all these witnesses will not serve you, what shall we say to you? Whom will you choose to be your Counsellor? There is none left that I remember, unless you will go the Devil for advice. But against this I have told you enough before. Will he speak for Holiness that is a spirit of uncleanness; and will he show thee Heaven that laboureth purposely to hide it from thee, till thou have lost it? Or will he let thee see the odiousness and danger of thy sin, when it is the snare and bait by which he hopeth to undo thee; But yet for all this, let me tell thee, that thou mayst learn even from the Tempting Enemy himself, the Truth of that which I am now asserting. For as the Devil himself believeth it, when he persuadeth thee not to believe it; so the very nature and manner of his Temptations, may help thee to perceive that Heaven is attainable, and Holiness is the only way. Would he make so much ado about it, to keep thee from the believing it, and seeking it, if there were not a Heaven for thee to find? why is he so eager to draw thee unto sin, if sin be not hurtful to thee? Dost thou not feel the importunity of his Temptations? Its easy to observe them. Why is he so much much against a Holy doctrine, and a Holy life, and a Holy people, if it were not that he knows the Necessity and worth of Holiness for thy good? The actions of a Knowing Enemy, may do very much to acquaint us with the truth. Besides this, he hath oft appeared in bodily shapes (as I am able to prove by undeniable evidence;) sometime to entice men to sin, and sometime to be Gods executioner to afflict them for it, and sometime to make a Covenant with witches and Conjurers for their souls, as many a hundred of them have confessed at their death. And why should he be so desirous of thy soul, if thou hadst none to lose? or so desirous to deceive thee, and deprive thee of salvation, if there were none for thee to lose? and if this were not the chief concernment of thy soul, why should thy chief enemy so much regard it? Thou seest that he is not so careful to deprive thee of thy fleshly pleasure: He careth not how much thou hast of this: The more the glutton is pleased with his cheer, and the more the drunkard delighteth in his cups, and the more the fornicator is pleased in his filthiness, and every voluptuous person in his voluptuousness, the Devil is pleased so much the more.