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

3. Do you think that an unnatural man is an Honest man? One that will abuse his Father or Mother, and scorn the bowels from which he sprung. All the world is agreed on it, that such are dishonest: [Honour thy Father and Mother] is called the first Commandment with promise. Exod. 21 17. [He that curseth his Father or Mother, shall surely be put to death.] See Prov. 20. 20. & 30. 17. [The eye that mocketh at his Father, and despiseth to obey his Mother, the Ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young Eagles shall eat it. To be [without natural affections] is the brand of highest wickedness, Rom. 1. 31. and 2 Tim. 3. 3.

And do you not know that it is worse to be without holy affections to the God that made you, and the Christ that bought you? and to despise, forsake or abuse the Lord? Thou hadst thy Being more from him then from thy Parents. They knew not how thy parts were formed! It was he that gave thee thy immortal soul: It is by him that thou hast lived until now; much more then on the food thou eatest, or the air thou breathest in. And art thou so unnatural as to be ungodly, and deny him thy love, and care, and service, that hath made thee? and to call a holy, heavenly life, a needless toil? Deut. 32. 6. [Do you thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Is he not thy Father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee and established thee?] If an unholy man be an honest man, that is so unnatural as to cross the end of his Creation, and deny his service to the Lord that made him; then he is honest that spits in his Fathers face, and despiseth his Mother that brought him forth.

And do you not know that it is worse to be without holy affections to the God that made you, and the Christ that bought you? and to despise, forsake or abuse the Lord? Thou hadst thy Being more from him then from thy Parents. They knew not how thy parts were formed! It was he that gave thee thy immortal soul: It is by him that thou hast lived until now; much more then on the food thou eatest, or the air thou breathest in. And art thou so unnatural as to be ungodly, and deny him thy love, and care, and service, that hath made thee? and to call a holy, heavenly life, a needless toyl?